Partnership Enhances Commitment To Nursing Excellence In Chesterfield
11 January 2013
Front row L-R, Gavin Boyle and Professor John Coyne signing the partnership agreement with colleagues
High standards of nurse education are absolutely pivotal to the quality of care we provide. We know that the nurses the University of Derby deliver are first class and we want to recruit the people that it trains.
”Chief Executive of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Gavin Boyle
The signing of a partnership agreement between the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Derby will ensure that the community of North Derbyshire will be cared for by a highly skilled professional nursing workforce long into the future.
The partnership agreement was signed at the University of Derby during a visit by the Royal's Chief Executive Gavin Boyle, Chief Nurse Alfonzo Tramontano and Senior Matron for Professional Development Dr Maxine Simmons; along with University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Liz Barnes, Professor Lorraine Ellis and Dr Paula Crick from the School of Health, and Faculty Dean Professor Guy Daly.
The agreement formalises the existing strong working relationship between the Hospital and the University. It is a vehicle for capitalising on the relationship for the benefit of the local community through a range of education and applied research initiatives.
More than 200 nurses are currently studying on Nursing programmes at the University's Chesterfield base at Chesterfield Chambers, with many gaining some of the practical experience they need within Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The Royal's Chief Executive, Gavin Boyle, said: "High standards of nurse education are absolutely pivotal to the quality of care we provide. We know that the nurses the University of Derby deliver are first class and we want to recruit the people that it trains.
"This agreement, and our future collaborative working, will give us a wonderful opportunity to feed the Hospital's values into Derby's training, ensuring student nurses feel as much part of our family as the University's throughout their studies.
"We are also looking forward to working with the University to design continuing professional development training for our nursing workforce and promoting research opportunities, which will ensure our nurses' knowledge and skills stay at the forefront of health care."
Head of the University's School of Health, Professor Lorraine Ellis, added: "With an established base in Chesterfield we already feel part of the community but we wanted to formalise our relationship with the Royal, so that we are both even better placed to rise to the challenges that we face in a climate of unprecedented change, whether in health or the higher education sector.
"Both sectors share the same agenda: quality patient care delivered by a workforce that is well educated and fit for practice. The partnership agreement is a testament to this and Derby is delighted at this development.
"As many of our students come from the area this partnership will give them further opportunities to use their skills to serve the community, and to maintain their connection with us through continuing professional development throughout their nursing careers."
The University's Chesterfield Campus provides its students with a modern, friendly and supportive learning environment. There are currently a limited number of places available to start BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) degrees at the University of Derby in Chesterfield in February 2013 and the University is hosting an open day at the site on Saturday January 12.
For more information visit www.derby.ac.uk/nursing
