New health academy launched

Dr Gill Tonge, Gill Pilkington, Shaju Ahmed, Dr Mohammed Jiva MBE, Chair Rochdale Health Alliance, Olivia Carr, winner of the logo competition, Mayor Councillor Mohammed Zaman, Dr Bodrul Alam, Steve Taylor, Laura O’Brien

A health academy that aims to attract new skills and workers to the borough launched at Rochdale Football Club on Wednesday 12 September, with the Mayor Councillor Mohammed Zaman lending his support.

The Heywood Middleton and Rochdale primary care academy will introduce apprenticeships, different roles and training in order to help address the issues of attracting and retaining GPs and other skilled health and care professionals to Rochdale.

Guests heard about plans to utilise the skills of paramedics, occupational therapists and physician associates who are training in the borough in a bid to avert a potential shortage of skilled staff in years to come.

Hopwood Hall College showcased its new opportunities for apprentices who may be attracted to working in the local health and care sector.

The academy has been set up by Rochdale Health Alliance using funds from the borough’s transformation programme granted by NHS Heywood Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) and Rochdale Borough Council.

Following a competition to design a logo for the academy, the Mayor presented prize winner, Olivia Carr from Middleton Technology School with her prize of shopping vouchers.

HMR CCG Primary Care Manager, Shaju Ahmed spoke on behalf of commissioners at the event, he said: “As commissioners we are committed to the continued investment and support into primary care to attract, recruit and retain a skilled work force to improve access to services locally.”