New nursing recruits welcomed to Lincolnshire’s NHS services

The first wave of Lincolnshire's nursing associates have embarked on their new careers in care across the county.

Nursing associates from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) and Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) have undergone a challenging two-year course in partnership with the University of Lincoln, to equip them with all the skills they need for their new healthcare roles.

The three organisations are among the first in the country to take on the graduates after being involved in the initial pilot project back in 2017, with 19 working with ULHT, five at LPFT and four at LCHS.

The nursing associate role has been launched in a bid to bridge the gap between healthcare support staff and qualified nurses, to offer more support to patients on the wards and departments across Lincolnshire's hospitals.

Nurse associate Caroline Duffy works with LCHS’s Grantham Integrated Community Team.

“I had worked in a nursing home since I was 16-years-old and worked my way up to become a senior carer,” explained Caroline. “I joined LCHS four years ago as I could go no further with my nursing home career.

“I came across the nursing associate training by chance. I have enjoyed the challenge and learning new skills. I was asked to be ambassador for LCHS and was honoured to do so. I have loved doing the course.

“I hope to go on and do my full nurse training in the future.”

Wendy Leighton, Lincolnshire Implementation Lead and Programme Lead for Nursing Associates at the University of Lincoln said: “The nursing associates are working in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health settings and in the community - this has been a true partnership approach.

“I am incredibly proud to have been involved and of each and every one of them; a new role for the nursing family and an historic ‘first’ for Lincolnshire.”

The nursing associates will be working across the following clinical areas:

LCHS:

• Scotter Ward (John Coupland Hospital, Gainsborough)
• Grantham Integrated Community Team
• Bourne Integrated Community Team
• Boston Integrated Community Team

LPFT:

• Ward 12 (Pilgrim)
• Manthorpe Centre (Grantham)
• Charlesworth Ward (Lincoln)

ULHT:

• EAU in Grantham
• Hatton Ward (Lincoln)
• 7A (Pilgrim)
• 8A (Pilgrim)
• A&E at both Pilgrim and Lincoln
• Stroke unit in Pilgrim
• Bevan (Pilgrim)
• Waddington Unit (Lincoln)
• Shuttleworth Ward (Lincoln)
• Lancaster Ward (Lincoln)
• Theatres in Pilgrim
• 9A (Pilgrim)
• 5A (Pilgrim)
• 3B (Pilgrim)
• 7B (Pilgrim)
• Integrated Assessment Centre (Pilgrim)