Innovative Health & Social Care Forums Continue at BGU

The Health & Social Care Team at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in collaboration with Terry Vine, Deputy Chief Nurse at West Lincs CCG, continued their programme of monthly forums for General Practice Nurses (GPNs) with a session focusing on ‘Urgent and Emergency Care in General Practice’.

The need for an understanding of urgent and emergency care is being seen more often in General Practice due to increases in condition complexity, access to services and general frailty of the populations served.

Central to the forum was a workshop session led by David Hickman from ‘Lives’, which focused on many of the skills for prehospital care and condition deterioration. Supported by over 700 volunteers, doctors, nurses and paramedics, the team at ‘Lives’ are dedicated to being there for the people of Lincolnshire in time of greatest need; delivering immediate high quality care regardless of the location or time of day.

In support of the need to enhance the education of General Practice and Primary Care, a consequence of the changing nature of healthcare delivery towards “Care Closer to Home”, BGU plans to launch a new MSc in Primary/Community Care from next year.

The course is designed to enhance the nature and quality of provision of care within the Primary/Community care setting in addition to facilitating a wider understanding for professionals currently in the sector as well as those considering a career within Primary/Community provision.

Nicki Walsh, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Health & Social Care at BGU, explains why the forums and new course are so important:

“Healthcare cannot stand still; as society’s health and social needs continue to evolve, effective education is critical. Continuing professional development is a vital part of this, especially for practitioners who are isolated from their clinical colleagues by virtue of their practice environment. 

“The monthly forum, established at BGU, is seen as a means to promote knowledge enhancement and exchange around best practice and to provide regular and relevant educational updates.

“The new MSc is an exciting opportunity to take the lessons of the forums a step further providing practitioners with a wealth of essential knowledge as well as breaking new ground in the teaching of Health & Social Care.”

The forums are an opportunity for often-isolated practice nurses from across Lincoln and surrounding villages to share experiences and develop and enhance skills. Each forum examines a range of General Practice related issues, whilst the latest focused on urgent and emergency care, previous forums looked at issues around Asthma Management, COPD and Mental Health support.

If you would like more information on the forums, or on the upcoming MSc you can contact Nicki Walsh or our Enquiries Team who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.