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What do past and current members say?

Two members of the WHSF

Jonathan Cliffe

  • third year student midwife, Bangor University

I have been a member of the Wales Health Student Forum (WHSF) for just over a year and in that time have held the position of University Representative for Bangor University.

As the WHSF is the only multi-disciplinary forum in the UK, offering support and representation to every healthcare student in Wales, I have developed a great sense of multi-professional working.

The Forum has allowed me to interact with fellow students from many healthcare disciplines, thus broadening my knowledge of other areas of health and is something I can take forward with me in my professional working.

As a midwifery student who will shortly qualify, I believe the WHSF has played an integral part in my confidence, as not only does WHSF allow for students to share knowledge, skills and experiences but also gives students the opportunity to raise issues in order to improve the quality of education within Wales.

Tim Nagle

  • first year nursing (mental health) student, Cardiff University

I arranged an alcohol brief intervention learning day for the WHSF. Those who attended were given the opportunity to learn from regulators how substance misuse may impact on their professional registration.

It also allowed service users to talk about their recovery and how they would like to be cared for. Those who attended received training in alcohol brief interventions, a useful intervention for all healthcare disciplines.

Hayley Forbes

  • second year midwifery student, Cardiff University

Through the WHSF I have had exposure to information I would not have had as part of my degree alone.

I have a greater understanding of how the NHS is run, and feel I have a broader skill set from attending many additional training sessions in subjects such as Welsh and brief alcohol Intervention. Talking to the different professions on the forum has broadened my knowledge of the NHS by allowing me to look outside my own expertise.

My team working skills have been enhanced through team building activities such as medical stretch and having the opportunity to be a member of the committee.

Being on the forum has allowed me to have a say on what the future NHS will look like by giving me opportunities to have a say on matters I would not otherwise have had exposure to. Most importantly it is great fun!