First time clinical and academic placements have been available in the county
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is to offer 15 paid placements in Cumbria as part of its plans to help develop the delivery of healthcare in the region.
This is the first time both the clinical and academic placements have been fully available in Cumbria which constitute a two-year intensive study programme to gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Associate Studies. Each student will receive a salary to study the course.
Based at the West Cumberland Medical Education Centre on UCLan’s Westlakes Campus in Whitehaven, the student physician associate programme is open to postgraduates who have a health or life science related degree and to other allied health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, advanced paramedics, and radiotherapists.
"This initiative represents an important step in the development of resilient communities and in Cumbria taking a leading role in further developing this type of medical practice."
The PG Diploma course is the result of a partnership with NHS England North West, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Manchester School of Medicine, the University of Liverpool PG School of Medicine and St Helens and Knowsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor Cathy Jackson said: “In working in collaboration with NHS England our vision is to enable an integrated health and care provision in rural, remote and dispersed communities which means developing more innovative roles within the workforce, including those of physician associates. In essence we are helping to develop medical professionals that will have come from and live in the communities they serve.”
Dr Peter Driscoll, academic lead for the physician associate programme at UCLan, added: “This initiative represents an important step in the development of resilient communities and in Cumbria taking a leading role in further developing this type of medical practice.”
More information about the programme and to apply for the placements can be found here.
Closing date for applications is 23 October 2016.
