Coatbridge College – External review (6 July 2012)
Sector-leading and innovative practice
Developing professional skills in health care through a learner-led health clinic
Learners undertaking Higher National Certificate (HNC) Health Care (SCQF level 7)
conduct a bi-weekly health clinic providing a range of health screening and
information services for learners and staff. Participation by learners in the health
clinic activities contributes to accredited work placement hours for entry to
undergraduate nursing programmes and meets the requirements of the Nursing and
Midwifery Council. The clinic was jointly designed by college staff and learners as
an additional clinical practice opportunity to develop and enhance professional and
employability skills for this group of learners. The clinic is managed by learners with
discreet supervision from a qualified member of teaching staff. During well-promoted
and publicised screening sessions, HNC learners provide a range of health checks
and give appropriate advice to college staff and learners. Services provided include
client height, weight and body mass indexing, blood pressure testing, cholesterol
level testing and blood glucose measurement.
Health promotion is a major feature of the work of the clinic and learners make good
use of a range of NHS literature targeted at promoting healthy lifestyles. Where test
results indicate a cause for concern, learners offer appropriate advice to clients. On
numerous occasions, results of the tests have prompted clients to seek medical
advice from their own doctor. Learners organise and run the clinic in their own time,
preparing the facility in advance, undertaking clinical tasks, managing staffing rotas,
and maintaining stocks of test materials. Learners report that involvement within the
clinic has supported the development of their clinical skills and knowledge, including
awareness of tests not normally covered within the HNC curriculum. Learners also
highlight how their role within the clinic has developed and reinforced a range of
essential skills, including communication, team working, self-confidence,
problem-solving, time management and client care.
Since the introduction of the clinic in 2011, over 120 staff and learners have attended
and benefited from its services. Clients value the clinic and have provided
overwhelmingly positive feedback on their experiences. The college intends to
further develop the clinic through its recognition as an NHS approved preventative
health service. There are advanced plans to open the clinic to the wider community
and further develop its services through partnership with Glasgow Caledonian
University.