Inspiring the next generation at Peterborough Regional College

One of our colleagues Collette Francis, who is a Health Advisor based in our Peterborough contact centre, recently had the opportunity to deliver talks and presentations to students at Peterborough Regional College, helping to raise awareness of the work we do at HUC and the important role of the NHS 111 service.

Due to the high number of students interested in attending, the sessions were delivered across two days. The presentations were attended by a range of classes including Level 1, 2 and 3 Health and Social Care students, T-Level Foundation Health and Social Care, T-Level Adult Nursing, and T-Level Mental Health.

During the sessions, Collette shared what HUC is, the purpose of the NHS 111 service, the areas we cover, and the type of calls we receive every day. She also talked through the different job roles within HUC and gave students an insight into what a typical day can look like for a Health Advisor (NHS 111 call handler).

She also discussed the importance of asking the right questions at the right time to help patients feel comfortable opening up so that we can ensure they receive the appropriate support.

To finish the sessions, she ran a short pop quiz with the students to keep things engaging while reinforcing some important learning points. The quiz focused on recognising key symptoms, such as the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke, helping students understand what to look out for and when urgent action is needed.

The students were particularly surprised by the wide variety of symptoms and concerns that people call 111 about, as well as the amount of training and ongoing learning that Health Advisors complete to ensure patient safety. By the end of the sessions, students left with a much clearer understanding of the role, the skills involved, and when it is appropriate to call 111 compared to 999 or other healthcare services.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with future healthcare professionals and share an insight into the vital work our teams do every day,” Collette reminisced.