Earlier this month, on the 3rd of February, Beckenham Beacon Hospital hosted a Bromley Healthcare Insight Event. Students from years 10-13 were invited to the event from a plethora of schools including Newstead Wood School, Hayes School and Coopers School. Some of these educational facilities were selective in which students attended the event and required a statement to be submitted outlining the student’s suitability. The event itself was an opportunity to be informed about career paths within the NHS in order to aid the effectiveness of their future plans, both within their school lives and beyond.
Throughout the duration of the event, just under four hours, numerous speakers visited who were at various stages of their NHS careers; some university students, some apprentices, and some staff in areas such as radiology. This enabled a multitude of viewpoints and personal experiences to be portrayed to the students, both educating them on the roles available in this field of work, and also potential paths to take in order to reach them.
There was a large focus on the fact that on the contrary to popular belief, a university degree is not compulsory in order to have a career within the NHS. The students were educated about many alternative paths such as apprenticeships and expansion of charity/social based work. It was also made apparent that many begin studying in a completely different field, and then make the decision to move into a healthcare related career later in life. This would have been reassuring for any students with concerns about attending university or being unsure of their desired career path.
One question was raised as to whether the event should have been more informative about education requirements and university entries and courses, especially as a large proportion of the attendees were in the process applying to university at the time and had therefore made a definite decision about their desire to work within healthcare. Additionally, it is likely that many of the other students had a strong interest in medicine or other areas of the NHS, hence them attending the event. Consequently some may believe that information about moving into an NHS career later in life lacked relevance to the students, and would perhaps be more useful to university students lacking interest in their course, or those who were interested in changing career path.
Overall, the event was a success and gave plenty of opportunities to learn more about careers within health care. The day was thoroughly beneficial for many attendees, aiding them in their future decisions, both within education and further. It enabled students to gain first-hand knowledge, as well as encouraging them in their aspirations. Participants are sure to look out for any similar future events.
