Last Friday, 17th April, the Medical Education Team celebrated one year since officially opening the Learning Centre at CRH. In that time, they have delivered around 600 training courses and events, received many compliments about the facilities and even (informally) adopted three cats to join the team.

To celebrate, the team took some time to get together, bake, and look back on what they have achieved over the past year. 

The Learning Centre on Dryclough Lane is a modern environment where colleagues 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 training space compared to the previous Learning Centre has doubled which means the medical education training offer has significantly improved, supported by purpose built digitally enabled learning spaces. Seven unique breakout spaces also help colleagues connect outside the learning environment, along with agile working areas which help people fit training around their working day.

President-Elect of the European Resuscitation Council and Consultant in Emergency Medicine at CHFT, Professor Andy Lockey, has been a champion of the Learning Centre from the start of the project, and officially opened the centre. Andy, said: “The past year has flown by and it’s been fantastic to see colleagues and students making the most of the wonderful facilities we have here which are improving and enhancing the learning experience. Especially those new starters who are getting valuable practice in our simulation suites which mimic the real environment out in our wards.”

Medical Director, Neeraj Bhasin, said: “Having this space is fantastic. The wide range of facilities, including the new library, give a modern and purpose-built space for all our colleagues to learn and develop, for now and the future. Our medical education team and estates team have been integral to the success of the centre over the past year. It is a huge testament to everyone involved that we’ve had such fantastic feedback from people who come to learn here.”

Medical Education Manager for the Learning Centre, Becky Colwill, said: “It is a wonderful setting to offer a wide range of medical education courses. Over the last year I have heard so many comments about how modern and light the space is for learning. The fact that we have seen over 50% more people through our doors than we used to speaks for itself. People love coming to learn here which is great to see.”

The two storey, flat-roofed centre has been designed to complement the surrounding area and is powered by solar panels to provide a sustainable electricity source, as part of our aim to deliver an energy efficient building. 

Pictured left to right are: Helen Marshall, Samantha Reid, Mariam Saleem, Faye Graham, Jammal Mohammed, Anna Zoric, Prof. Andy Lockey and Becky Colwill. Pictured right is Mariam Saleem with one of the cats.