Torbay and South Devon Clinical School Conferences

Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for NHS England, Mark Radford opened the 2019 Torbay and South Devon Clinical School Annual Conference via video link that welcomed over 100 nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and social workers.

“An enjoyable day with lots of information which has given me some motivation to still pursue research and applying for a doctorate place next year” Conference attendee

Organised by Torbay and South Devon Clinical School leads, Professor Mary Hickson and Dr Susie Pearce, the conference featured guest speaker slots from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Chief Nurse, Jane Viner. Jane provided an overview of the national landscape for health workers and the way forward for delivering care, and Natasha Goswell, Systems Director for Nursing and Professional Practice discussed the Trust’s professional practice strategy.

“It was great to see nursing being promoted as leading and engaging in research – always previously seen so much as a medical preserve.”

Research Fellow Kathryn Bamforth and Harriet Hughes shared their experiences of being the first recipients of the Torbay Medical Research Fund fellowship scheme that supports doctoral work for clinical staff within the Trust. Kathryn’s PhD will explore how staff wellbeing translates into care given to patients, whilst Harriet is preparing her doctoral application on support for children with cerebral palsy.

“What was most of value was the opportunity to meet like-minded clinicians and explore the opportunities for developing a career in clinical academic research”

Also included were Orthopaedic Surgical Care Practitioner Sarah Tomlinson and Clair Symonds and Associate Director of Professional Practice, Rhoda Allison who discussed their roles and service developments on the Trust’s care of older people wards respectively.