Hugh Baird College celebrates T-level students completing their 1st year

IN September 2021, Hugh Baird College became 1 of the 1st providers in the country to offer T-level qualifications. 1 year on, they are celebrating their students' achievements in completing the 1st year of their courses. T-levels are 16 to 19 qualifications, broadly equivalent in size to 3 A-levels, that focus on technical and vocational skills. They can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. They are now available to study in a wide range of subjects, with Hugh Baird College offering courses in Electrotechnical Engineering, Digital Support, Health and Healthcare Science. These pioneering new qualifications have been designed in collaboration with leading employers to provide the skills that businesses across the Region need. The subject areas on offer reflect some of the top business growth areas such as digital skills, health and social care and construction. From September 2022, T-level courses in Business Management, Engineering and Manufacturing, Digital Production, and Education and Childcare will also be available to study at Hugh Baird College and Hugh Baird College is currently accepting applications. T-levels are unique as they combine classroom study with industry placements so young people gain valuable work experience in their chosen sector. Many local businesses including the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and Liverpool Clinical Laboratories are embracing T-levels as a great way to bring in new ideas and the latest skills, and a new way to find, nurture and secure young talent. Holly Old is 1 of the 1st students to take a T-level course. Holly studied T-level Healthcare Science and has completed an industry placement at the Histopathology Laboratory in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital NHS Trust. After graduating Holly is hoping to progress to University to study a dual degree in Paramedics and Nursing.

Holly said:- "I'm incredibly excited to be 1 of the 1st ever students to take a T-level course at Hugh Baird College. I have thoroughly enjoyed the 1st year of my course and my industry placement at the Histopathology Laboratory really reinforced my passion for working in the Health sector. I'm looking forward to my next steps where I am planning to go to Edge Hill University and study the Paramedic and Nursing dual degree. I would love to be either a Paramedic or a Paediatric Nurse. I'm really excited to see what happens!"

To find out more about T-levels and the courses that are available to study at Hugh Baird College in September 2022, visit:- HughBaird.AC.UK.

Donations urgently needed at Liverpool Blood Donor Centres to help stop summer fall in stock

BLOOD stocks are falling due to higher levels of staff and donor illness, mainly linked to the rise in Coronavirus cases. Donations are also lower in the summer, when people are busy with holidays and events. While many sessions held in community venues such as church halls are full, the larger blood Donor Centres in Cities currently have unfilled appointments. The Liverpool Blood Donor Centre is only 74% full next week [w/c 11 July 2022]. The NHSBT blood stock holding unit in Liverpool; which serves the wider Region, not just the City; has 4 days of blood, whereas NHSBT normally looks to hold 6 days. Stocks have fallen because Hospitals are requesting more blood than is currently being donated. The demand for blood is back to pre-Pandemic levels as Hospitals catch up on the backlog of routine activity that was postponed. Hospitals are still receiving all the blood they need, but more donations are needed now, to ensure stocks do not fall further.

The blood types most in demand are:- O positive, O negative, and B negative.

Each blood donation can save or improve up to three lives. Blood is used to treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery.

Mark Chambers, NHSBT Assistant Director of Planning, said:- "We are still supplying Hospitals with all the blood they need. However we need to stop the decline in blood stocks now. We urgently need more people to make appointments to give blood at our Liverpool Donor Centre. If you are 1 of our amazing donors in Liverpool please make and keep an appointment at our Donor Centre. And if you have never donated before, now is a great time to make your 1st donation. You will be helping the NHS at an important time. Every appointment counts."

Liverpool Blood Donor Centre is on St Paul's Square in the City Centre. For more information visit:- Blood.Co.UK, call:- 03001232323.