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Healthcare training at risk at University of Leeds

19 November 2013

Healthcare training that produces highly skilled graduates to work in hospitals and health services across West Yorkshire and beyond, should not be 'decimated', union members will tell a university vice-chancellor this week.

Representatives from UCU, along with those from unions, UNITE and UNISON, are due to meet University of Leeds vice-chancellor, Sir Alan Langlands, on Thursday (21 November). They will urge him to rethink new proposals for the School of Healthcare that put six out of eight departments at risk. The unions have launched an online petition, already signed by 1800 supporters.

A recent review by the university concluded six out of eight disciplines in the School of Healthcare should be closed: Pharmacy, Audiology, Cardiac Physiology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Diagnostic Radiography, and Social Work.

Campaigners have highlighted evidence of the high quality of work done in the threatened departments:

  • In a letter to the vice-chancellor, Chief Executive Officer of The College of Radiographers, Richard Evans, wrote, 'The University of Leeds' ultrasound programme is recognised as being at the top of the game and the largest number of graduates in the UK emerge from it. The university is also leading the way in designing and delivering new models of education for the ultrasound workforce which is of vital importance given the chronic shortage in this sector in the UK and worldwide.'
  • Audiology at the University of Leeds has been given a 100% satisfaction rating by students for the past four years. Counselling and Psychotherapy has achieved a 100% student satisfaction rate and the Clinical Physiology - Cardiology course has been given a 95% satisfaction rating for 2012/13.
  • Audiology, Clinical Physiology - Cardiology, and Radiography, have achieved 100% graduate employment or study rates for 2011/12 (the most recent year for which this data is available).
  • Audiology and Clinical Physiology - Cardiology achieved 100% student retention rates in 2011/12.
  • As the population ages, the country needs more audiologists.
  • Leeds graduates in Cardiac Physiology add significantly to the capacity and quality of the local workforce, as well as to a contracting national pool.
  • The existing MA in Psychotherapy & Counselling has a specific approach not available elsewhere. Placement providers have consistently commented that students from this programme are better prepared than those from other courses.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'These proposals would decimate healthcare training in Leeds, doing untold damage to health services in West Yorkshire and beyond. By the university's own admission, these courses provide highly skilled graduates for health services that are increasingly struggling to find them.

'Some of these departments offer unique opportunities and it should be noted that many local people, often women returning to work later on in life, choose to study them.

'We cannot overstate the threat this poses to healthcare services and of course, to the careers of the highly dedicated workforce who staff the school. We will urge Sir Alan Langlands to reconsider these potentially catastrophic proposals.'

Last updated: 10 December 2015

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