Edinburgh College has launched a digital care hub to support training for students in technology enabled health and social care.
It has set up the Edinburgh College Digital Care Hub, located at its Sighthill Campus, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.
It said it will equip students with transferrable skills for careers in areas including health and social care, dental and pharmacy, with a particular emphasis on technology enabled care.
The hub will focus on building students’ digital and practical skills through its state-of-the-art equipment and support experiential learning.
It contains a replica medical ward with patient room, toilet and wet room facilities; an infection control and decontamination area; a reflection room; a care at home room; as well as a virtual reality room designed to give students an immersive experience in the day-to-day life of a patient with dementia.
There are also realistic patient simulators with true-to-life responsiveness, in a variety of care settings, enabling students to develop patient testing and care skills.
The new facility hosts the Edinburgh College and University of Edinburgh Social Care Academy. As part of the programme, pupils study units in digital skills for health and social care, mental health, the human body, infection prevention and control and safe beginners for health and social care.
Practical learning
Andy Cumberford, principal and CEO of Edinburgh College, said: “The facility will provide practical learning experiences for pupils and students as well as exposing them to many sector specialisms which they ordinarily might miss out on without having access to specialist equipment in a health and care setting.
“The Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of our health and care workers across the country and through addressing the national skills gaps in digital enabled care, the Digital Care Hub, through partnership working with industry, is ready to provide a pipeline of future workers equipped with the skills and knowledge required to meet the demands of the sector and population.”
Image from iStock, Natalie Mis
