Bournemouth and Poole College Launches its Health and Care Academy to Train Future Healthcare Workforce

We were proud to launch our state-of-the-art Health and Care Academy on 24th June, signifying a major milestone in the delivery of healthcare education in the region. The new facility was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by public speaker Alex Lewis, and in the presence of distinguished guests from the college’s partner organisations in the health, care and education sectors.

The £1.1 million purpose-built facility, jointly funded by the Department for Education (DfE), has been designed to closely simulate real-world clinical and care environments and adds to the range of refurbishments and facilities the college is offering students. 

The Academy offers an immersive, high-specification training setting for students pursuing careers in health and social care, comprising:

• A fully equipped four-bed hospital ward simulation suite
• A care suite fitted with a kitchen and bedroom
• Three refurbished classrooms.

These spaces are complemented by industry-standard equipment providing hands-on experience with medical technology, including high-tech patient-simulation mannequins and advanced clinical technology, facilitating hands-on learning in healthcare scenarios. Equipment in the rooms includes hoists, hydraulic beds, Dinemap blood pressure trolleys, hospital gowns and a range of PPU (Personal Protective Uniforms), amongst other equipment and accessories.  

The design and delivery of the Academy was informed by close collaboration between Bournemouth and Poole College’s curriculum team and key local stakeholders, including the NHS, Partners in Care, local care and nursing home providers and educational partners, ensuring that the facility is closely aligned with current and emerging industry requirements. 

The launch was marked by a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony led by esteemed adventurer and adaptive rower, Alex Lewis, who pushed through extraordinary barriers following a rare infection which led to quadruple amputation and facial disfigurement.

Alex now has a foundation dedicated to his work – the Alex Lewis Float Foundation (ALFF), which leads the innovation of assistive technology to make it affordable and accessible to everyone, empowering individuals to live more independent lives.

He spoke of: “family, resilience, exceptional healthcare, incredible World First adventure and the creation of The ALFF”, in a powerful keynote address on resilience and the future of healthcare accessibility. 

Alex said: “It’s great to be invited to deliver my speech at the opening of this pioneering suite. My own connections with the college and staff here have brought about this invitation and I’m remarkably proud to be a part of the discussions for the future of the Academy. The college is really making waves in the healthcare sector, and it's really promising to be here today and be a part of this occasion.”  

Alex’s next challenges include becoming the first quadruple amputee to row the North Atlantic (2,800 miles!), and with our very own Ellis Haggar, lecturer in the Foundation department, cross-country skiing across Greenland and paramotoring across Africa from Namibia to Mozambique.

The establishment of the Health and Care Academy reflects Bournemouth and Poole College’s strategic commitment to supporting the development of a skilled, future-ready healthcare workforce. As part of this ongoing mission, sixteen T Level Health students have recently completed placements at University Hospitals Dorset and Dorset Healthcare, gaining valuable practical experience in areas such as surgical theatres, elderly care, oncology, and dermatology.