Pupils inspired to take up NHS career after health board visit

Primary school pupils are being inspired to one day take up a career in the NHS following a visit from Swansea Bay services.

Colleagues from the health board’s Maxillofacial Unit Laboratory, Capital and Estates and Medical Electronics service visited children at Clwyd Community Primary School in Penlan, Swansea, as part of their Aspiration Day.

The intention of the school’s event is to give year six pupils a taster of future, potential occupations within their area and a real-life experience.

Barbara Lane, Medical Engineering Technician Specialist, attended the school along with Beata Zakrzewska and Sachini Rajapakse from the health board’s Medical Electronics team.

PICTURED: Pupils took part in exercises with Valena Iordanidou and Lauren Howls from the health board's Maxillofacial Unit Laboratory.

They showed pupils different equipment and gave them demonstrations with sats monitors for blood oxygen levels, CO2 gas measurements to show carbon dioxide levels when breathing out and a thermal imaging camera which is to find equipment faults.

Barbara said: “We demonstrated the equipment and explained what they’re used for and why, and we let them try them out.

“We also explained our job roles and explained that this job is accessible to almost everyone if they wanted to pursue it.

“We all enjoyed the visit very much and it’s nice to see the children appreciated it too.

“They were very interested in trialling the medical devices and completing clinical engineering-themed worksheets with games like a word search and match the device to its use. 

PICTURED: Pupils were given a range of devices to test.

“Hopefully we’ve inspired some of them to become part of the NHS when they are old enough.”

Year six teacher Hannah Edmunds helped organise the annual event.

Hannah said: “We have been holding the Aspiration Day for our year six children for over 10 years.

“We have been really lucky to have professionals from Swansea Bay University Health Board take part in the event.

“The pupils engage so well and show a genuine interest. It is always a popular event as it gives them 'hands on' experiences. It is lovely to see the sense of awe and wonder on their faces and to hear some of the questions they raise about the equipment and tech.  

“Following the event, the classes completed some follow up worked based on the workers they spoke to and looked at job descriptions and person specifications before filling in mock application forms and having interviews.”

Amanda Davies, Service Improvement Manager for the health board, added: “We have been proud to work in partnership with Clwyd Community Primary School over the past few years supporting this important event and helping children broaden their horizons about the world of work.

“Events like this can make a real difference, particularly in communities where children may have had limited exposure to different career opportunities.

PICTURED: The health board's Maxillofacial Unit Laboratory, Capital and Estates and Medical Electronics services showed children various equipment to give them further understanding of their work.

“By supporting initiatives such as this we are putting into practice the principles of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, working collaboratively to help children realise their potential and for them to believe that their aspirations can become a reality.

“Special thanks to Tracey Elsey in our Capital Planning team who co-ordinated the health board’s involvement and brought together colleagues and partners from a range of professions to inspire the pupils.

“We want to encourage ambition and hope that the conversations and experiences that they had during the day will help the children to think positively about the many exciting career paths that are available to them.”