Education & training
One of the key objectives of the IRH is the provision of education and training for rural health professionals. Learning is a lifelong activity, which starts in school and continues to retirement. The Institute takes an integrated approach to the education and training of rural health professionals:
- co-ordinating training and professional development from the start of careers (choice at school) through student and training years to continuing professional development
- ensuring that the needs of all the professional groups are met and that as far as possible IRH educational activities are multi disciplinary; learning together is important
The IRH provides an education programme for those working in rural primary care, including dentists, doctors, nurses and reception staff. The IRH hosts the Welsh Rural Postgraduate Unit (WRPU) which was established in October 2000 and is a formal affiliation between Cardiff University Postgraduate Department and the IRH. The philosophy and objectives of the IRH education and training programme are:
- to support a workforce "fit for purpose,"
- to ensure that CPD interventions allow today's health care professionals to meet today's challenges by the provision of high quality postgraduate medical and dental education,
- to promote multi-disciplinary training and education to foster better teamwork,
- and the provision and maintenance of appropriate facilities for postgraduate medical and dental education.
IRH's training programme is devised with the help of its clinical, primary care training and advisory groups. The programme combines practical skills for primary care staff with clinical updates and medicines management, for GPs, Dentists and Nurses. For many years the IRH has facilitated the popular Annual Rural Doctors' Conference on behalf of the Montgomeryshire Medical Society. For further information regarding IRH's training programme please read our current programme.
The IRH firmly believes that rural practice should be seen as a career choice for young doctors and other health care professionals; it supports work placements in rural general practice, and holds a careers day for rural school students in collaboration with the Widening Access Department of Cardiff University. IRH also supports a programme for undergraduates including a weekend SSC project and facilitates a secondary care programme for Year 5 students from Cardiff University.
For further information, please contact:
Ann Whale
Education and Training Manager