Student Council for Pre-Qualifying Nursing and Midwifery Awards - 07/12/2016
Here’s a compilation of topics and issues discussed during this month’s Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Matters discussed at RSH before the joint video conference
Expensive food and sauces at the Shropshire Conference Centre. As this is an external company, there is not a lot that can be done in regards to this.
The toilet above Dudley’s at BHL. No hot water and a consistent lack of paper towels reported. To be looked into.
Low council attendance and lack of chair/vice-chair. No nominations received this month for chair of the meeting and only five reps present on both sites. It is discussed whether the continuing the council is viable or would it be better to increase the number of faculty-led Programme Committee Meetings, which serve a similar purpose.
Discounts for Mytton Oak restaurant (near RSH). This was raised at the last meeting, but as yet there has been no feedback from the faculty, but will be chased up. However, it remains unlikely as a possible deal as they don’t even offer discounts to staff. The students’ union will investigate possible local alternatives to promote, such as the NUS Extra discount at the local Cooperative shop.
Male students’ tunics. Male students can freely choose whether they want a ‘male-style’ tunic or a unisex alternative. HR is happy to organise this.
Feedback on Dudley’s. Certain negative feedback brought to the attention of Adrian Lowe. He has said he will hold a hygiene update for the staff there.
BHL parking/minibus. Staff are aware of the lack of spaces and it is being monitored. Possibility of a minibus collecting students from the surrounding area was discussed at the last meeting and brought to the faculty, but due to the restructure no feedback has been received. Will be brought up again in January/February.
Open day student staff payments. Payment is dealt with by Unitemps, so if the students are registered with them, then they should have been paid. If there are any further issues, contact Unitemps Staffs via email: unitemps@staffs.ac.uk, or by phone: 01782 294995.
BHL library printers. Discussed in the last meeting that one printer in the library is insufficient and causing queues. The possibility of additional printer/s will be looked into further.
Vending machine suppliers RSH. Raised in the last meeting, options for diabetic/vegan students to choose from were requested. The food suppliers for these machines are dealt with by the Trust and not the university, the council will contact these suppliers through the Trust and discuss possible alternatives.
Minuted meeting with joint video conference
Lack of study/reading time ahead of exam period. With placements, assignments and holidays, some students are struggling to have enough time to use the resources in the health library to study. This will be brought to Val Nixon and hopefully resolved for the next cohort.
A Nursing rep presents gives thanks to Jane Hinde, who marked their papers so quickly, in just over a week. She also thanks Tracey for her lectures, as well as Ruth and Lauren.
The union outreach. Tony Costin (present), the union’s Outreach Assistant is available at RSH every Tuesday and BHL every Thursday, commencing again in the new year. With the devolved union budget at the students’ disposal, he would like to hear proposals for campaigns, small or large events and general student experience improvements that would utilise this.
Andrea Alker (present) will be leaving her position as Student Guidance Advisor and will be moving on to the Enabling Centre in the new year.
Separate emblems on uniforms for differing cohorts/years. This has been explored thoroughly several times in the past by the faculty and found to be unfeasible.
Inclusion of Paramedics and ODP in the council. Paramedic students were in attendance at the last meeting, when a constitutional change to include them was suggested. Such a change has not yet been made, with the current restructures in the faculty, but those present agreed that their presence at the last council was productive and would be happy to see them invited again. It is also suggested that their inclusion could solve the problems of attendance and lack of chair.
The next meeting. For the next council meeting there was general agreement that it should take place in February, cancelling the one intended for the second week of January. This is to ensure good attendance, outside of exam/assignment season, and to get some clearer answers as the faculty reshuffle should be finished by then.
For further information or comments, send an email to tony.costin@staffs.ac.uk.