Attwood Green Health Centre is home to an ambitious programme equipping nurses from overseas to join the NHS across Birmingham.
With the shortage of nurses across the UK estimated to be around 50,000, the local Integrated Care System (ICS) and Trusts adopted the innovative approach to nurse recruitment and were looking for a good place to run the courses. Since the scheme started, more than 412 nurses have completed the programme and gone on to nurse in a range of areas, including mental health and critical care.
The programme was set up to attract qualified nurses from countries such as India and the Philippines who then join the six-week course which gives them the necessary knowledge and support, including uniforms and identification, to move into nursing positions across the area.
CHP worked with the ICS and Nickie Walker, Team Manager for International Nurse Education, to identify space within the health centre which could be repurposed. The work included relocating some other services within the building and improving the facilities and utilising of other space, without extra costs for the commissioners.
I cannot ask for a better space as a training venue. We worked together to make sure that the vision of how I wanted it to look and deliver the right training to our nurses was achieved. A great working space, giving staff a good working environment. For me it’s about quality.
“We’re really pleased to have been able to work with the trainers to provide this space, An added bonus is that it has enabled us to use the space at Attwood Green far more efficiently, making better use of local NHS funds.”
An added bonus of the Attwood Green site is that it is close to both the new nurses’ temporary accommodation and within easy walking distance of Birmingham city centre.
