Education for Health - Our History
Key Milestones:
Learn more about our journey... (PDF Link)
The Education for Health Story
Its over twenty years since the original training centre was set up in Stratford-upon-Avon, by our founder, and now Patron, Greta Barnes, MBE. It is also over 10 years since Heartsave was established - so effectively over thirty years of training in respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Greta Barnes, MBE |
Monica Fletcher Chief Executive 2001 to date |
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There have been so many people who have contributed to the success of the Charity. Why not view our Roll of Honour for further details. In October we are holding a reception at the House of Lords. Baroness Julia Cumberledge has kindly agreed to host this prestigious event; this is most appropriate as she has been instrumental in making nurse prescribing in the UK a reality and pioneering the role of nursing in primary care.
The focus for us is to celebrate over twenty years of primary care education and, in so doing, to put pressure to get training back on the NHS agenda. Unfortunately we, like many other training establishments, have seen a downturn in the number of students attending training programmes this year as a result of the current financial difficulties across the NHS. At a time when primary care is being seen as centre stage for the NHS reforms, this is short-sighted. For many years, Education for Health through their student surveys have demonstrated that education and training improves both the confidence and competence of practitioners but we now have exciting new evidence to demonstrate that health professional training has an impact on the Quality of Life of our patients. More about our research studies...
Our mission and achievement is considered to be at the forefront of professional clinical excellence in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory and allergic disease: to continue to set and promote standards of best practice and to continue to establish practice nursing as the profession and recognised career choice for providing front line care.
At a time when the NHS is facing challenge and crisis, our story and reputation seems to consistently cut through and offer real and relevant ways for health professionals and managers to move forward.
Professor Bryan Stoten - PCT Chairman, Health Service academic and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, sums up our impact: "I think Education for Health is going to deliver the White Paper. If we’re serious about getting domiciliary care and community nursing care right, we’ll have to invest in training. I think the future for this sort of training, particularly distance learning training, is very strong indeed.”
Monica Fletcher, CEO, Education for Health
Education with a Future
We have produced a short film, 'Education with a future'. This was created because the NHS Alliance wanted to highlight how an innovative attitude and pioneering approach can be harnessed to meet the challenges of caring for 18 million people who have long term conditions.
We were proud to be asked to showcase our story, and are delighted to be able to share it with you here...
Open the door to Education with a Future… (Film Link)
Our International Story:
National Respiratory Training Center, USA
Margaret Lester |
"Taking the Asthma Course changed my life." How many times I have heard course graduates, including myself, say those words. After finishing the 2nd ever Asthma Course to be offered in the US (1998), I was anxious to get the word out to other health professionals, but it was not at all clear how to accomplish that. After becoming a Trainer, I had the opportunity to work on a number of courses in 1999-2000 offered across the US by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and by the North Carolina Asthma Board. |
Those courses were all administered by the NRTC in the UK and once they were finished, there was no mechanism for doing any more courses - or for any ongoing presence of the NRTC in the US.
Feeling that the need was so great here in the US, I approached Sue Cross, then Director of Training in Warwick, to see if she and Greta would support my spending some time assessing possibilities on this side of the Atlantic. With their agreement, I left my clinical job as of the end of 2000, planning to spend 2001 working full time on behalf of the organization. At the same time I started, Monica Fletcher came on board as the new Chief Executive. With Monica's vision and my presence "on the ground," we built an organization that has trained hundreds of health professionals around the US, in asthma, COPD, and spirometry.
Feeling a need to return to my clinical roots, I left the NRTC in June 2006, but am delighted to know that Judith Taylor-Fishwick is taking the organization to the next level.
Now and the Future of NRTC USA
Judith Taylor-Fishwick MSc, BSc (Hons), PG Dip HEd, FAETC, AE-C NRTC US Director |
The NRTC, as a relatively young organization in the USA, has a proud history and a future full of promise. A combination of past graduates, committed high-quality trainers, renowned members comprising the Board of Directors and enthusiastic staff operate in the dynamic health care world that is so much a part of the USA. Having established a strong foundation in the USA we continue to build the organizations presence, doing what we do well, but also keeping a firm vision on the changing delivery systems for continuing education in the USA. In addition, taking a step into the world of evidence-based practice takes us down the road of grant funding and working side by side with researchers at the forefront of health care service delivery and quality in the US. |
In July 2007, the University of Michigan, School of Public Health under the auspices of Noreen Clark, PhD, in partnership with the NRTC received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to fund the implementation and evaluation of NACE (Nurse Asthma Care and Education). NACE will involve implementing a continuing education model, including an interactive seminar, addressing asthma care and management in five communities across the United States.
In addition, in February 2007, the NRTC collaborated with Eastern Virginia Medical School and occupies offices on the Eastern Virginia Medical (EVMS) Campus. Judith Taylor-Fishwick, the NRTC-US Director holds a faculty position at EVMS. In the Fall of 2006 the NRTC began working with Duke University Medical Center alongside Monica Kraft, MD and Larry Williams, MD to develop a patient education website for asthma and COPD. The NRTC presence on national committees continues to expand to include the National Asthma Education and Prevention program, US COPD coalition, American Thoracic Society (ATS) Nursing Assembly Long term planning committee and ATS International Lung Health Committee.
Roll of Honour
- Introduction
- Board of Trustees - Past & Present
- Trainers - Past & Present
- Showcase - My Journey from student - to trainer - to module leader
'It was hearing stories of asthmatic sufferers who were squirting their Ventolin inhalers under their armpits, like a deodorant, that made me realise the urgent need for vigorous educational action. This was in the early days of the Asthma Society, formed in 1980 to provide a support charity for asthmatics. So the presentation by Greta Barnes to the Education Committee of the Society on her experience of the use of practice nurses in hypertension, and her eagerness to translate that to asthma, came like a beacon shining in a dark place. The rest, as they say, is history.
The success of the Training Centre is now legendary. It arose from a combination of the charismatic zeal and practical common sense of its founder with the enthusiasm of the nurses and trainers she recruited. The teaching of skills and understanding to patients with asthma, who have to rely so much on their own actions to control their condition, has reaped manifold benefits and saved lives. It was my privilege to serve as a trustee of the National Respiratory Training Centre and I have continued to follow and admire the success of the enlarged organisation since my retirement.'
Dr Donald Lane, MD FRCP
NRTC Chairman 1986 – 2001, NRTC Trustee 1986 - 2005
'The impact of the work undertaken by the National Respiratory Training Centre and Education for Health will probably never be fully evaluable. However, the Centre's map depicting the country of origin of their trainees tells all. It's been my privilege to meet nurses in many countries of the world who have benefited from undertaking a course at the NRTC and within the UK the Centre's activities have had a very significant effect on the way in which we offer good healthcare to those with long term conditions. It has been a privilege to observe these innovative, high standard activities and I look forward to observing continued growth and success.'
Professor Martyn Partridge, MD FRCP
Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Health Services Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London
NRTC/Education for Health Chairman 2001 – 2006
NRTC Trustee 1993 - 2006
'I first became aware of and involved with Heartsave some years ago when a member of the British Heart Foundation's Education Committee which funded the early years of the project, being led then by Elaine Fullard, a quietly influential nurse. In the intervening years I saw the team develop a higher profile nationally, particularly in response to the publication of the coronary heart disease NSF. From what I could gather practices across the country were eagerly booking their nurses on to Heartsave courses to help improve care. I joined the organisation as a Trustee in 2004, following in the august footsteps of Sir Muir Gray, and shortly after that was closely involved in the decisions that resulted in the merger with NRTC that brought about the dynamic new organisation called Education for Health under the inspired leadership of Monica Fletcher.
It has been a privilege to work with my fellow Trustees, Monica and her superb team in the early years of Education for Health and to help develop future strategy. As fewer people die from CHD (thanks in part to the NSF) more are living with long term support needs, and the recent move to tackle stroke brings further challenges. I have no doubt that Education for Health are well placed to support healthcare professionals in meeting those challenges.’
Professor Tom Quinn, MPhil RN FESC FRCN
Heartsave / Education for Health Trustee 2004 to date
'Following Sir Muir Gray as Chairman of Heartsave was challenging enough but then taking over from Martin within months of NRTC and Heartsave coming together was really daunting ... and yet what a delight it has been. The staff invariably smile - even under the greatest of pressures. Mon drives everyone forward with such sublime self confidence and her vision -so all embracing -that the excitement she generates is tangible. More than anything I am struck by the fact that "no-one makes a fuss! They just get on with it " and produce courses, programmes, CDs - so much (excellent) output and - for a Trustee separate from the day to day - apparently so effortlessly. So for me my overwhelming impression is of just that kind of entrepreneurial organisation working for the public good that the Government talks about so much - the social enterprise company - but is so hard to create. And here in Warwick I've found it!'
Professor Bryan Stoten BA Hons, M Soc Sc, PGCE, D Univ, FRSA
Chairman of Warwickshire PCT
Heartsave Chairman 2002 – 2006
Education for Health Chairman 2006 - 2007
'With such a robust reputation in respiratory training, Education for Health is now becoming a strong force in cardiovascular medicine education in the UK. Its links are established in several countries worldwide and this needs to be further strengthened – with the ever increasing burden of chronic diseases globally. An organisation that I am proud to be associated with and a privilege to help map its ongoing strategy. A noisy celebration is well justified for Education for Health's 20th anniversary, as is a strong commendation for its award-winning team. Bravo!'
Dr Sandy Gupta MD, FRCP
Consultant Cardiologist, Whipps Cross and St Barts Hospitals, London
Education for Health Trustee 2005 to date
Education for Health wouldn’t be the force that it is today, were it not for the significant and tireless contribution made by members of the health community over the years.
In our years of pioneering primary care education, we say a huge thank you and wish to honour all those individuals who have donated their time, opinions, vision and experience to help shape our organisation today, to ensure our future tomorrow….
Education for Health Board of Trustees - Past & Present:
NRTC Founder & Director:
1986 – 2001: Greta Barnes MBE
(Appointed Patron to Education for Health Nov 2005, Heartsave Trustee 2002 - 2006)
Chairmen:
1986 – 2005: Dr Donald Lane MD, FRCP (NRTC Chairman 1986 – 2001)
1993 – 2006: Professor Martyn Partridge MD, FRCP (Chairman 2001 – 2006, NRTC/Education for Health)
2002 – 2004: Sir Muir Gray (Heartsave)
2002 to date: Prof Bryan Stoten BA Hons, M Soc Sc, PGCE, D Univ, FRSA (Heartsave Chairman 2002 – 2006, Education for Health Chairman 2006 - 2007)
Trustees:
2002 – 2006: Greta Barnes (Heartsave)
2002 – 2006: David Barnes (Heartsave)
1986 – 1997: Hugh Faulkner OBE, FCIS Deceased (NRTC)
1986 – 2001: Professor Sir Michael Drury OBE, FRCP, FRCGP, FRACGP (NRTC)
1993 – 2004: Prof Sean Hilton MD, FRCGP, DRCOG (NRTC)
2001 – 2006: Prof Douglas Robinson MA, MD, FRCP (NRTC/Education for Health)
2001 to date: Prof Ala Szscepura BA, Dphil (NRTC/Education for Health)
2002 – 2005: Prof Karen Luker BNurs, RGN, RHV, PhD (NRTC/Education for Health)
2002 – 2005: Prof Brian Pentecost (Heartsave)
2004 – 2005: Christopher Brightmore MA, Dip NEBSS (NRTC/Education for Health)
2004 – 2006: Graham Sopp MA, MBA (Treasurer & Trustee, NRTC/Education for Health)
2004 to date: Prof Jeremy Dale PhD, MA, MB BS, FRCGP, DRCOG, DCH, MILT (NRTC/Education for Health)
2004 to date: Prof Tom Quinn MPhil, RN, FESC, FRCN (Heartsave/Education for Health)
2005 to date: Dr Theo Schofield OBE, MA, FRCP, FRCGP (Heartsave/Education for Health)
2005 to date: Dr Sandy Gupta MD, FRCP (Education for Health)
2006 to date: Prof Sally Singh MCSP, PhD (Education for Health)
2006 to date: William George (Treasurer & Trustee, Education for Health)
Find out more about our current Board of Trustees...
Education for Health Trainers graduated:
Jul 1989: |
Oct 1991: |
Sept 1993: |
Jan 1995: |
Lesley Andrew |
Rachel Booker Adrienne Brewin Gwyneth Dixon Chris Fehrenbach Wendy Johnson Margaret Kerr Jane Leyshon June Roberts Gillian Rowe Joy Smith Jenny Till Jan Walker Liz Wiltshire |
Jacqui Cooper Sharon Hadley Liz Hicks Francesca Hurrell Jill Logan Ruth McArthur Joan Sawyer Trisha Weller |
Charlotte Edwards Birthe Hellquist Martina Kells Catherine Tutt Netta Williams |
Apr 1996: |
Jan 1997: |
Mar 1998: |
Jun 1999: |
| Sheila Bailey Elisabeth Bryant Judith Clapp Duncan Fatz Linda Fox Jacinta Meighan-Davies Marily Plummer Julie Price Judith Williams Stephanie Wolfe |
Sarah Austin |
Alison Betteridge Ruth Bruins Jan Chantrell Helena Dunbar Christine Ennor Agnes Forster Margaret Freer Patricia MacDonald Gail South Deborah Stern |
Dr Niniola Aderibigbe Elise Austegard Hyacinth Bacchus Shirley Ferlance Flora Gill Kay Holt Gillian Ledger Julie Lennon Margaret Lester SIren Nicolaisen Dr Samantha Walker |
Oct 2000: |
Sept 2001 (USA): |
Nov 2001: |
Oct 2002: |
| Dr Dinesh Bagmane Margaret Cuffwright Justina Ferguson Sue Hill Vikki Knowles Sarah Latham Novella Palpini Dr Lilia Romaniuk Dr Khurshid Wani Sally Wells Dr Lyudmyla Yashyna |
Edana Altman Tammy Armstrong Carolyn Bell Pamela Biggs Patricia Cafaro Sheila Driver Leonette Georges Sharon Kast Kevin Letz Wendy Mahaffey Elaine Matheson Sharon Rohrer Melinda Shuler Pamela Steele |
Debbie Barboza Anne Casson Sadie Clayton Claire Duffus Dr Monsur Habib Teresa James Mairead Logue Anne Marie Marley Heaather Matthews Melanie McFeeters Alison Pooler Diane Postle Rebecca Salloway Lynn Short |
Dr Khalid Obead Bawakid Dr Majdy Moh'd Qutub Dr Moufag Moh'd Tayeb |
Nov 2002: |
Feb 2003: |
Sept 2003 (USA): |
May 2004: |
| Susan Bennett Elaine Biscoe Sally Connell June Connolly Gillian Harrison Jutta Harvey Yvonne Henderson Carole McGrath Sue Nutbrown Judith Smith Maggie Stobart |
Michaela Brown Victoria Carr Dr Paul Cullinan Dr Michelle Hazell Caroline Hendry Dr Jon Miles Anna Murphy Frederica Reid Karin Smith Nicola Stevens |
Jackie Alexander Tim Byrum Pamela Ellwood Colleen Felts Tamara Foltz David Fulghum Kathy Huber Casey Jones Jean Lawrence Cynthia Milles Joan Mogil Edmund Pendleton Jakki Rawlinson Maria Rojas Kathy Smith |
Anne Copland Judith Lawrence Susan Moran Dr Iain Small Helen White |
Jun 2005: |
Oct 2005: |
Feb 2006: |
Jun 2006: |
| Lynn Coleman Beverley Cox Laura Griffiths Jenny Pool Celia Proudfoot Susan Thomas Mandy Underwood Dr Jane Upton Sandy Walmsley |
Michele Beevers Lindsay Benjamin Judith Edwards Stephanie Goodall Dawn Gough David Long Bridget Nightingale |
Joanne Crewe Cynthia Davies Gillian Fiumicelli Hazel Hayden Susan Kennedy Gail Rimington Anne Rodman Marcelle Rollings Lilian Smith-Vincent Margaret Williams |
Susan Hall Cheryl Harding Wendy Hollinshead Linda Jones Margaret Jones Margaret Martin Julia Neal Eileen Pearson Sarah-Jane Peffers Sue Priddey Christina Reihill |
Oct 2006: |
Mar 2007: |
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| Jacqueline Baird Shenda Diaz Joanne Haws Christine Loveridge Paul Maxwell Linda Mutton Tracy Stoodley Alison Turner |
Lindsey Abbott |
Find out more about becoming one of our Trainers...
Showcase: My Journey from Student – to Trainer – to Module Leader
Bev Cox |
As a module leader here at Education for Health I write, develop and deliver the materials that we use from our one day introduction courses through to our degree level modules. (There is an MSc course but I’m not allowed to sneak a peek at that – see below for details!) Just as importantly, I also get to work with a huge bunch of enthusiasts, from fellow module leaders to the fantastic trainers who are out there spreading their knowledge and expertise around the world (quite literally). ‘How on earth did I end up here?’ I ask myself, and if you are thinking of a career as a module leader then let me tell you how it happened for me… View the full showcase article... |
Join Us
- Subscribe to our FREE e-Newsletter
- Subscribe to our British Journals of Primary Care Nursing
- Join our Research Network
Subscribe to our FREE e-Newsletter…
Published quarterly, our free, interactive e-newsletter is packed full of topical news, information and announcements as well as inspiring success stories looking at pioneering ways that our students, trainers and education commissioners are applying their knowledge to champion better care for patients. It will also highlight our work, both nationally and internationally, and let you know how you can get involved.
Subscribe to our e-Newsletter, its easy...
Subscribe FREE to our British Journals of Primary Care Nursing…
Education for Health are pleased to announce the launch of two unique new journals:
The Respiratory Diseases and Allergy British Journal of Primary Care Nursing is published quarterly. It has been developed specifically to meet the needs of primary care nurses in managing respiratory diseases – including COPD, asthma and allergy.
The Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes British Journal of Primary Care Nursing is published every 8 weeks. It’s designed to bring you up-to-date information on important developments in coronary heart disease, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and other related disorders.
Susbcription to either of our BJPCN journals is free...
Join our Research Network
Are you a potential researcher?
We are developing a national network of respiratory health care professionals to support a research programme designed to expand the evidence base for respiratory disease management in primary care. The aim of the research is to raise awareness of the morbidity associated with respiratory disease, improve patient care and enable more successful patient self-management.
We are interested in hearing from anyone working in primary care with an interest in respiratory disease.
Learn more about how to join the Research Network…
Our Achievements
- Introduction
- Open University Accreditation
- Education for Health - "a great place to work"
- National Training Award
- Work-Life Balance - for all employees
- Securing freedom from tobacco smoke
Introduction
As an organisation which has grown considerably since our inception in 1987, we are delighted that we have an organisation culture which strives to achieve excellence in our products, staff and trainers. This excellence has been recognised both locally and nationally and here are just some of the awards we have gained over the last five years.
Open University Accreditation
In 2002 Education for Health was awarded institutional accreditation by the Open University, in recognition of the quality of both the organisation and the training programmes offered. Health professionals training with Education for Health can now benefit from the Open University’s reputation for excellence in distance learning. We have a high quality academic pathway with modules and programmes available to suit the needs of nurses in primary and secondary care, GPs and other health professionals.
'The quality of Education for Health’s training is recognised around the world and it is absolutely correct that it is now recognised in the UK in this innovative way by an innovative university.'
Martyn R Partridge, MD FRCP
Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College, London
(Chairman of the Education for Health Board of Trustees 1993-2006)
Find out more about our Open University Accreditation and validated modules & programmes...
Education for Health - "a great place to work"
We were awarded the Investors in People Standard, with the Assessors stating "Education for Health is fully committed to meeting and maintaining the ethos represented within the Investors in People Standard. Many of the existing processes and policies, combined with a strong culture of involvement and recognition for people's contributions demonstrate that the organisation exceeds the requirements of the Standard in several areas."
View the full Investors in People report…
National Training Award
"Winning a National Training Award is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved in the provision of our education programmes at Education for Health. The Award recognises the quality of our programmes and demonstrates not only good team development, but also the outstanding results gained by putting what has been learnt into practice," Sue Rivers, Director of Education & Quality at Education for Health
Learn more about our National Training Award…
Work-Life Balance - for all employees
Education for Health achieved the Warwickshire Employer of Choice Award 2006 for a medium sized employer. Gill Parks, Director of Operations, said "We are delighted that the work we have done to support our employees with work-life balance issues has been recognised locally. Everyone who comes to work has a sense of purpose and takes a personal pride that the work we do here really makes a difference to patients with long term conditions".
Find out more about being an Employer of Choice…
Securing freedom from tobacco smoke
We have achieved a Gold Award from The National Clean Air Award Scheme in recognition of our outstanding commitment in providing a tobacco smoke-free environment to protect the health, safety and well-being of all who enter our premises.
