Last Wednesday, 16th April marked a milestone here at #TeamCHFT as we welcomed local people, health and social care organisations, and colleagues, to officially open our new Learning Centre.

The event was opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by an open afternoon where guests, local people, and health and care colleagues, were invited to experience the wide variety of activities which take place at the centre.

The Learning Centre is a modern environment where a wide range of healthcare professionals can be trained, practise realistic scenarios and hone new skills. There are flexible and interactive education and teaching spaces, breakout areas, as well as a new library. The centre also provides learning opportunities for local healthcare students and in the future will be available for other local organisations to book.

Chief Executive, Brendan Brown, opened the Learning Centre with Professor Andy Lockey, Chair-Elect of the European Resuscitation Council and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Trust.

Brendan said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us to officially open our new Learning Centre. It’s the culmination of more than 12 months of hard work to reach this significant milestone, which will support plans to transform our services across Calderdale and Huddersfield. The centre is a significant investment in our fantastic health and care workforce, and a real asset for our local community here in Halifax.”

Andy, who has just celebrated his 23rd anniversary at CHFT, said: “I arrived six months after CRH opened and one of the factors that brought me here was the strong commitment towards education and the facilities available at that time. I have a passion for medical education, and it’s exciting to be able to have such phenomenal facilities available to our current and future health and care colleagues across Calderdale and Huddersfield.

"Areas such as our state-of-the-art simulation suite give valuable opportunities to practice scenarios, which not only give people the right skills, but also improve confidence and delivery of compassionate care in our hospitals and closer to home in our communities. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it.

"This facility represents much more than bricks and mortar - it stands as a commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and ultimately the highest quality of care for our patients, nurturing talent and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals."

Comments from those taking a tour included:

• Governance Administrator, Michelle Augustine: “It’s an amazing space, so airy and bright. It certainly has a different feel to our old learning centre and feels completely different to being in the hospital environment.”
• Consultant, Jonathan Cowley: “The colour schemes throughout, especially in the library, make it feel open, and much more user friendly. The whole centre is not only accessible, but also a fantastic learning space.”
• ICU Ward Manager, Joanne Walker: “Wow, the Simulation Wards and Clinical Skills Lab are fantastic. Back in my training days I remember practicing injections on an orange!”
• Non-Executive Director, Jo-Anne Wass: “It’s just an amazing building and there are so many flexible ways to use the meeting areas.”

The Learning Centre can be accessed from Dryclough Lane. The two storey, flat-roofed centre has been designed to complement the surrounding area and includes a solar panel system to provide a sustainable electricity source, as part of the Trust’s aim to deliver an energy efficient building. It also includes landscaped garden areas to promote biodiversity and boost wellbeing.

The new building is part of the Foundations for our Future programme, which is our long-term vision to transform our services in Calderdale and Huddersfield.

Pictured clockwise from the top: Andy and Brendan cut the ribbon, The Clinical Skills lab set up with some training equipment, ICU Ward Managers Catherine Mason and Joanne Walker in the manual handling training room, Library Services Manager, Helen Curtis and Deputy Chief Executive, Director of Transformation and Partnerships, Anna Basford in the brightly coloured library and the Simulation Ward set up with various mannequins.