Alumni Josh Helps Students to Become Sepsis Savvy
We LOVE hearing about the amazing journeys to success from our past students.
We recently caught up with Level 3 Health and Social Care alumni Josh Bell, who has had an incredible journey so far.
Since being at Weston College, Josh previously worked in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) & Sleep Service at Bristol Royal Hospital For Children. Now studying for his degree, Josh is now working for University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) as a Nursing Assistant and Healthcare Assistant in Portsmouth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as gaining this fantastic wealth of knowledge and experience from these roles, Josh also received an NHS Parliamentary Award and was named “The NHS Rising Star”, South West Regional Champion!
Ahead of their clinical placements, Josh recently visited the Health and Active Living Skills Centre to teach current Level 2 & 3 learners about Sepsis as a volunteer for UK charity: Sepsis Trust.
Josh commented: “Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Having an understanding of Sepsis and its symptoms is paramount when spotting the first signs which can lead to early detection, intervention and treatment. Asking the question ‘Just Ask Could It Be Sepsis?’ does save lives and getting that message out there in the community is essential.”
The class covered the signs and symptoms and treatment of Sepsis, practiced clinical skills, including taking Manual Blood Pressures and completed a NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2).
Guest lectures such as this are one of the career-boosting benefits that stem from the college’s newly formed Health and Social Care Career Excellence Hub. These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities. Endorsed by industry, such as UHBW, this enables for better integration with the sector to make sure class content is relative and opens doors for learners so they leave college with more than just a qualification.
Josh continued: “I was delighted at the welcome I had back into the college, and I was very impressed with a particular I class I taught! Sarah-Jane, who was my previous Health & Social Care Lecturer, was great and I am so pleased that the students are still learning Health and Social Care as it’s one of the best careers to be part of!
I thought the new facilities were fantastic. It's great to see that current students have an area to study and practice clinical skills which can highly relate to a clinical environment within a hospital or an acute setting, which is paramount for essential clinical learning!”
Josh is currently studying a Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) Degree Course at the University of Portsmouth.
“I am loving my Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) Degree Course at the University, I have always been inspired to work in the NHS, but especially to become a Paramedic. The best part of the course so far is our clinical placements where we are based in an Ambulance Station and working with Paramedics out on the road to get experience and learning on the job!”
Moving forward, Josh is hoping to go on to do a Critical Care Masters degree in the future, aiming to one day work for the Air Ambulance or specialising in Critical / Acute Care.
On Saturday 11th June 2022, he will be taking part in the Great North Swim to raise funds for The UK’s Sepsis Trust. The Great North Swim is the largest open water swimming event in the UK. Held in the stunning surroundings of Lake Windermere, England's largest lake at 10.5 miles long (17km), stretching from Ambleside in the North to Newby Bridge in the South. Click here to learn more.
We'd like to say a huge thank-you to Josh for returning to the College to pass on his knowledge - An incredibly bright future ahead for this young professional!
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Josh’s advice to learners:
The most important advice that I would give to current learners is ‘The sky is your limit!’ and if you would like to achieve something, go for it! The NHS is an incredible organization to work within, and there are hundreds of opportunities out there, so I would say, ask your teachers or mentors out on placement if you are stuck on something, and they will help you, because they have all been students themselves once, and you are the future of our Health Service so study the areas you are unsure on and learn from your fellow students and persevere in something you want to achieve, as you may not achieve it the first time, but if you continue to learn and develop your knowledge you can achieve anything!
