STUDENTS are being offered a taste of life on the frontline as a college responds to the needs of modern healthcare.
Placements with paramedics and in A&E are being provided for eligible students studying qualifications in health and social care and clinical health care support at Darlington College.
Until now student placements tended to be limited to working in residential care homes helping staff and befriending residents.
But Darlington College has broadened the range of work experience to the field of rapid response.
Students will be able to opt to work with North East Ambulance Service staff or in hospital.
Placements will give an insight into host of careers for students on courses including Btec health and social care, Level 2 and 3 Cache diploma clinical health care support and uniformed and public services.
Potential professions range from phlebotomy to paramedic sciences, mental health care to social services.
Programme leader for clinical health care Jaime Leanne Ross said: “This is an invaluable opportunity for students to gain an insight into the variety of careers in health care.
“Students must be over 18 for the frontline places and will undergo a careful interview process to ensure they are suited to such a placement. It will be an incredible experience.”
For gap year student Hans Kukreja studying at Darlington College proved to be just what the doctor ordered.
The 20-year-old, of Darlington, excelled in his studies and on his placement and has now secured a coveted place to read medicine at Imperial College, London.
He applied for medicine last year but was unsuccessful despite gaining grade As in maths and chemistry, an A* in biology and the highest award of D3 in physics.
Hans decided to take a gap year but instead of working or travelling abroad he enrolled on the CACHE level 3 diploma in health and social care course at Darlington College and found a placement on the dementia ward.
“I wanted to experience life from a patient’s point of view to increase the levels of empathy I will have in a future career of medicine,” he said.
“Some doctors fall down on their bedside manner not realising sufficiently they are there to serve the public.
“I am not sure which aspect of medicine I will specialise, perhaps neurology, in but I want to make sure I make as much impact in the field and the community as possible.”
Mrs Ross said: “Hans wanted to experience patient centred care which many clinicians miss out on.
“He makes me feel so proud. He always worked over and above what was expected of him and the staff at the care home held him in such high regard.
“Our courses are about care and putting people first. They can’t fail to stand students in good stead for a successful career in range of rewarding professions.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk.
