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Glasgow Clinical Research Facility wins Student Placement of the Year award

Glasgow Clinical Research Facility wins Student Placement of the Year award

9th November 2021

The Glasgow Clinical Research Facility (GCRF) has been credited for its exceptional student placement programme, winning the “Student Placement of the Year: Hospital” category at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2021

The award seeks to recognise those hospital wards and environments that manage the anxieties associated with going on placement, by providing a structured learning environment that helps the student to flourish. This includes clearly setting out what students will be exposed to during their time at the hospital, and ensuring they are supported to learn, practise skills and gain wisdom from the wider team.

The Glasgow Clinical Research Facility fought off competition from all over the UK to be named the winner of the category, announced at an awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 4 November.

The judging panel for the awards commented: "This entry goes above and beyond to demonstrate the potential of a unique practice learning opportunity for nursing students, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Judges commented that this practice learning opportunity is innovative and at the forefront of developing the critically important skills of the future nursing workforce. Congratulations."

Now in its 10th year, the awards recognise the extraordinary work of students, staff and placement organisers. The GCRF was nominated alongside teams from throughout the UK, including Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust in central London.

The GCRF was established in 2006 with funding from the Scottish Government via the Chief Scientist Office. It provides state-of-the-art research space across several geographical sites, including the £5m Clinical Research Facility at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus and an adult facility at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Each research space provides high-quality clinical environments and outreach services where patients and healthy volunteers can take part in international clinical research studies.

The Glasgow Clinical Research Facility team accept their Student Nursing Times Award
The Glasgow Clinical Research Facility team accept their Student Nursing Times Award

Naomi Hickey, Education and Training Officer, said: “With the help and support of NHSGGC Practice Education Facilitator team and Glasgow Caledonian University, we started placements approximately five years ago, and we have used feedback from students to continue to shape and adapt the placements we offer.

“It’s a real privilege to be recognised by this award, we have worked hard to develop our student placements. Clinical research is a slightly unknown quantity for students, so this is an honour for the whole research community.”

The GCRF employs a team of multidisciplinary staff, supporting a portfolio of over 200 clinical research studies, ranging from complex early phase or novel technique experimental medicine to large population-based public health initiatives. The team works hand-in-hand with NHS Research Scotland to deliver research across the full spectrum of therapy areas.

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