University for the NHS

December 2 2002 - Proposals for a new corporate university of the NHS - the NHSU - have been issued by the Department of Health in a document called 'Learning for Everyone'. The proposals place learning at the centre of healthcare and offer the the opportunity for all NHS staff to gain professional qualifications whilst working.

The consultation document proposes opening up new learning opportunities for all staff. The plans include:

- All NHS staff without a professional qualification will be able to start on a foundation degree pathway within 5 years of joining the NHS. Foundation degrees are two-year, employer-led degrees geared to meet vocational needs. People will start on this pathway at a point that is in line with their level of achievement and ability.

- Junior scholarships for 14-16 year olds which will provide young people, especially those from disadvantaged or socially excluded backgrounds, with the opportunity to consider career opportunities they might otherwise feel are out of reach or previously not considered. Details of this scheme will be worked out with LEA's, Head Teachers, parents and local NHS organisations.

- Junior and senior fellowships for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. These fellowships will provide opportunities and support for research and development to gifted clinicians - both those at the start of their careers and senior practitioners.

Speaking at a recent Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) seminar in London, Health Minister John Hutton said:

"The NHS needs to attract more people to a career in health. New style foundation degrees will give NHS staff the opportunity to study for a foundation degree within 5 years of joining the health service. They will start at the level that suits them and the skills they acquire will be practical and relevant to their work.

"Junior scholarships will encourage those coming up to school leaving age to come and 'earn and learn' in the NHS. We must open up the prospect of new careers inside the NHS to those sections of our community that are rarely, if ever, to be found working in the fields of either medicine or in the wider spectrum of healthcare sciences. Working and learning in healthcare must in future open up new opportunities to achieve the occupational or professional qualification that matches a person's own desires, aspirations and ability. Regardless of class or status. Irrespective of background or birth."

Professor Bob Fryer, Chief Executive said:

"NHSU will make learning available to everyone working for and with the NHS at every level, including those who may not have experienced education since leaving school. Our focus will be improving care for patients by providing learning that will be used to make a difference.

"Over the next three months we are consulting with staff, patients, education providers and all those who have an interest, and with whom NHSU will need to work very closely in order to deliver our plans. We want NHSU to be shaped by people in healthcare, for people in healthcare."

The consultation plans also propose that the NHSU should become the first fully recognised public sector corporate university in the UK, with its own degree-awarding powers, contributing to the goals of the NHS and underpinning its values. Staff will benefit from academic standards associated with university status.

The government believes that learning and development will result in improved services for patients. It will provide staff with the skills and experience they need to support them in their roles and enhance their career opportunities. They argue that this will improve quality, morale, recruitment and retention. All this will contribute to improved patient care.

The publication of the Development Plan marks the beginning of an extensive consultation exercise. Ideas, feedback and opinions gathered will contribute to the NHSU's first Strategic Plan, due to be published in Spring 2003, which will feed into the preparation of the official launch of the NHSU in Autumn 2003.