NHS professionals deliver workshops as part of the college’s Medical Field Programme for A-level students

Coleg Sir Gâr A-level science students worked with medical and dental professionals from the NHS in workshops organised by the college’s Medical Field Programme. 

Nurses from Hywel Dda University Health Board, with years of experience of trauma response and A&E work, talked to students about career pathways within the service whilst delivering a session in patient empathy.

One group of students were placed in a virtual reality setting where they instantly became an elderly person dependant on a wheelchair and another group were given sensory overrides where their vision, hearing, balance and mobility were affected whilst asked to complete everyday tasks. 

The dentistry workshop looked at teeth and gum health with a practical session of taking dental impressions and extracting teeth. 

The Medical Field Programme, unique to Coleg Sir Gâr and in partnership with Swansea university and Hywel Dda University Health Board, offers hands-on experiences as this ‘A Day in the Life of…’ taster session along with university visits, all aimed at widening awareness of the careers available in the sector, such as audiology, biochemistry, operating department practice (ODP) and genetics. 

Dr Susan Ford, chemistry lecturer at Coleg Sir Gâr is leading the initiative. She said: “We want to offer our students as much opportunity as we can to get them involved in real-world experiences which will shape and rethink their career paths.

“There are a vast number of pathways in this sector outside of the traditional careers that come to mind and we want students to be aware of the opportunities available to them in this growing sector.”