The NHS at 75 — Inspiring the Next Generation

The new ‘NHS Next Generation’ visits aim to inform and inspire local school children, helping them to understand the many different ways the NHS supports people, how much has changed in the NHS over the last 75 years, and maybe even tempt them to consider one of the wide variety of fulfilling roles within the NHS in the future.

 

Local schools from across Haringey and Islington were invited to attend a half-day session at our hospital, where they started by delving into the history of the NHS, with a focus on the Windrush generation at the statue dedicated to Windrush and Commonwealth nurses who came to work in the NHS that takes pride of place outside our hospital. Schools then met NHS staff from a range of professions to learn about what they do and what a future career in that field might look like.

 

There are over 350 career options in the NHS and students were introduced to topics such as how technology is shaping the NHS, basic resuscitation skills, and a day in the life of a biomedical scientist. They had an opportunity to meet and learn about speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, midwives, and doctors, among others.

 

By sharing the NHS's rich history and by giving the next generation an exclusive insight into Whittington Health and the NHS, we hope that local children learn more about healthcare and how we support local people, as well as encouraging them to explore potential careers within the NHS in the future.

 

Helen Brown, Whittington Health NHS Trust’s Chief Executive said, “As an anchor in the local community, we are proud to showcase what we do to local young people. Despite challenges, there is so much to celebrate about the NHS and Whittington Health, and everything we do in North London to help local people live longer, healthier lives. I hope that in years to come, we are able to welcome some of these pupils back as trainees, apprentices and colleagues.”

 

Athena Trapalis, a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Healthcare Support Workforce Development Project Lead at Whittington Health, expressed excitement in welcoming the next generation to learn about being an Allied Health Professional (AHP). “It was fantastic to welcome so many children and young people to our Trust, they were so engaged and enjoyed learning about diverse range of career paths available to them. A career as an AHP is a rewarding one that gives you many opportunities to learn and grow. I hope that we were able to inspire some of the next generation to follow in our path.”