We’ve welcomed another overseas delegation from Europe to CHFT -  this time from Finland, looking at how well our Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role works at the Trust.

They came from a University in Vaasa, in a link-up with us and our partners at Huddersfield University to look at the University apprenticeship programme and also to understand how ACPs work in clinical practice here.

At CHFT we have ACPs in ED, Frailty, Acute Medicine, Medical SDEC, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Haematology, Paediatrics, Neonates and Ophthalmology from a variety of backgrounds including nursing, physiotherapy, paramedics, and orthoptists.

The delegation met with the Advanced Practice Faculty, clinicians here and colleagues from the University of Huddersfield.

Our head nurse for workforce and education, Janet Youd, said: “They were fascinated by scope of ACP practice in the UK, being particularly interested in the work of the frailty ACPs and the establishment of the urgent community response and virtual ward.

"It was interesting to hear they have similar challenges to us with regards nursing vacancies and primary care demands. Though they have fewer opportunities than us to recruit internationally due to the requirement for nurses to speak Finnish and in some cases Swedish too.”

Pictured Left To Right: Lisa Dawson – Apprentice ACP Emergency Department, Kelly Moss- Lead ACP Frailty, Janet Youd- Head Nurse for Workforce and Education, Susanna Nylund (MSc Advanced Practice Nurse Programme Leader - Finland), Professor Lisbeth Fagerström (Rector and Professor of Caring Sciences- Finland), Ruwang Han (PhD Student – Finland), Deb Lau: ACP Lecturer/Practitioner Medical SDEC), Emma Palmer Hoyes: Apprentice ACP Emergency Department