A new NHS training academy has been launched in the North of England to help nurture the next generation of specialists.
Hosted by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, the Northern Endoscopy Training Academy (NETA) has launched to combine the insight and expertise of endoscopy professionals from across the region, effectively creating a centralised hub for all the area’s aspiring endoscopy professionals.
As part of the opening at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, four new training spaces have been opened, boasting the latest virtual and simulation technology to aid trainees in their academic journey.
In preparation of the launch, a clinical lead, manager, research fellow, and immersion lead have all appointed for the NETA. Dr Chris Wells, who has years of endoscopy training experience has been made clinical lead.
He said: “This is really exciting news for Hartlepool to play a leadership role in endoscopy training across the North East and North Cumbria. The UK leads the world in endoscopy training and we provide a structured program to teach our learners.
“The unit here at Hartlepool has delivered high quality endoscopy training courses for a decade and is very well regarded nationally.
“Although this training is of a high quality, the access to training is variable across our region – all trainees don’t get the same opportunities to develop and as such the time to reach competence can vary, depending on where the training takes place.
“We are proud to be part of a collaboration of health organisations across the region. The NETA is an exciting innovation in endoscopy education and we are delighted to be a key part of it.”
Dr Fraser Brown has been welcomed as the NETA research fellow. Fraser will be responsible for researching aspects of endoscopy education with the aim of informing any future training developments.
Roisin Bevan, who is a consultant gastroenterologist at North Tees and Hartlepool, has been appointed immersion lead, whilst Nicola Robinson has been made manager for the NETA project.
Nicola said: “Each trainee will get the same training, which will start with a two to three day training course, supported by either a two or four week immersion training block at one of the sites, and followed by regular training at the trainee’s base site.
“This accelerated training will mean our trainees reach competence more quickly, allowing them to become vital parts of the diagnostic workforce. The enhanced unit at Hartlepool now has four high level training rooms, each linked audio-visually to an expanded seminar room.
“The newly developed unit will continue to deliver basic skills training courses and trainer development courses. The unit will now host immersion trainees alongside our sister unit at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and our partners in Newcastle and Sunderland.”
The NETA was launched by Health Education England North East’s postgraduate dean, Professor Namita Kumar.
