Education for Health Logo

The Athenaeum
10 Church Street
Warwick
CV34 4AB
Email


Charity Reg No: 1048816
Company Reg No: 3090774

Chairman: Dr Jonathan Shapiro
MA (Cantab), MB, ChB, MRCGP

About Education for Health

Awards:

About Us

Education for Health is registered in England and Wales at The Athenaeum, 10 Church Street, Warwick. Company Registration No 3090774.
Charity Registration No 1048816.

Education for Health based in Warwick, is an independent education and research institution for health professionals and was the first training centre of its type. Education for Health is a powerful merger of two of the UK’s leading education institutions for health professionals: the National Respiratory Training Centre (NRTC) and Heartsave.

It aims to provide a consistent, comprehensive and innovative approach to professional health training across the fields of cardiovascular disease and respiratory health, with the ultimate objective of transforming lives worldwide. Educational programmes are run nationally and internationally and are accredited by the Open University.

Education for Health has built a reputation as a leading international provider of education for health professionals: since 1987, it has provided education and training more than 41,000 health professionals in more than 47 countries throughout the world.

During the 2004/2005 academic year 4,000 students studied with us. Almost 15,000 healthcare practitioners have completed the Asthma diploma level module over the last 14 and a half years and around 10,500 of these are practice nurses.

Participants in our education are keen to spread the word to their colleagues: more than 75% of students first heard of Education for Health by word of mouth.  Almost 50% of students attending an asthma short course go on to study at least one or more Education for Health courses.

Read our Annual Report - summary of our Charity’s key achievements for 2008/09 and aspirations for the years to come

We are delighted to present a summary of our Charity’s key achievements for 2008/09 and preview our aspirations for the years to come. This years’ report has a completely new look and feel, is limited to a mere 8 pages and uses our own photographs to share with you what we did, why we did it, how we funded it and what we’re focusing on next...

Find out more about us and what we achieved 2006/07:

Our History

Its over twenty years since the original National Respiratory Training Centre was set up. It is also over 10 years since Heartsave was established - so effectively over thirty years of training in respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Learn more about our journey...

Education for Health (formerly NRTC) receives Open University accreditation

Open University LogoThe National Respiratory Training Centre (NRTC) was awarded institutional accreditation by the Open University (OU), in recognition of the quality of the organisation and the training programmes offered. Confirming the NRTC as the leading provider of health professional education on chronic respiratory diseases, the OU also validated the Training Centre’s new Diploma of Higher Education and new BSc (Honours) Degree in Respiratory Care. “

"OU accreditation signifies a major new phase of development for Education for Health (formerly NRTC) ”, confirmed Monica Fletcher, who was appointed as Chief Executive in February 2001 following the retirement of its founder Greta Barnes. Education for Health was the first organisation to offer training to health professionals on structured care for a chronic disease. Established in 1986 as the Asthma Training Centre, demand for health professional training in other respiratory diseases has resulted in a broadening of remit, reflected in the change of name. Increasingly, health professionals in other countries are turning to Education for Health for help in developing structured care, following confirmation of the link between improved patient outcomes in primary care practices where practice nurses have undergone specialist training in asthma.


It offers 16 OU validated modules and 17 short courses on a variety of respiratory related topics, ranging from asthma, COPD, breathlessness and tuberculosis to respiratory therapeutics and evidence-based practice.

"The quality of the NRTC’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, Chairman of the NRTC Trustees, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College, London.

Accreditation

In awarding institutional accreditation, the OU recognised that Education for Health provides:

  • an appropriate learning environment for higher education, underpinned by the clinical expertise and research activities of the staff
  • a quality assurance system to maintain and enhance the standard of training programmes offered
  • clear academic structures
  • training that is independent of commercial interests
  • training that is responsive to national and international standards.

The teaching resources, library and computing facilities at the headquarters in Warwick were examined by the OU panel of expert advisers, as well as the financial stability of the organisation. All passed with flying colours – the only health professional respiratory training organisation in the country to achieve this standard.

Benefits for health professionals

Health professionals training with Education for Health will benefit from the OU’s reputation for excellence in distance learning and the flexibility of the credit ratings awarded to the individual module that comprise the Diploma and Degree programmes. With the popular one-day Short Courses and individual modules of study, the ability to offer full Diploma, Degree and MSc programmes means there is now a high quality academic pathway for health professionals. Modules and programmes are available to suit the needs of nurses in primary and secondary care, GPs and other health professionals.

Modules, Programmes & Regional Training Venues

Education for Health is committed to providing training that meets the requirements of busy health professionals, with widely differing educational needs and personal circumstances. It has designed a range of programmes, modules and short courses that provide a clear academic structure and yet are sufficiently flexible to allow students to focus on their specific areas of interest. For Diploma and Degree modules, there is an emphasis on distance learning, allowing participants to study wherever they choose at a time that suits them, with interactive study days at locations throughout the UK.

Short Courses

Education for Health organises popular one-day short courses that cover the fundamentals of diagnosis, management and treatment of respiratory disease, as well as practical skills. In addition, it works closely with Primary Care Organisations, NHS Trusts and universities to provide bespoke educational courses that are specifically tailored to take account of local issues and infrastructure.

Regional Training Venues

  • Education for Health, Warwick
  • Stirling Management Centre, Scotland

Further details of regional training venues and accommodation...

However, Education for Health is increasingly working in partnership with Primary Care Organisations, NHS Trusts and Universities to commission training nationally for groups of 20 – 25 students. This arrangement is particularly advantageous as local knowledge can be incorporated into the programme and peer support is of huge benefit to students.

Continuing Professional Support

Longer-term support is available to learners by means of the Education for Health Student Support Line

Education for Health constantly strives to adapt to the evolving role of health professionals involved in respiratory care and regularly introduces new modules that take account of changing priorities in the Health Service.

Resources and Publications

Education for Health offers a comprehensive selection of educational resources, including informative and practical pocket books, authoritative text books and patient materials such as record cards, technique cards, posters and booklets.  View our Educational Resources for further details.

Research Strategy

Education for Health believes that in order to deliver the most effective patient care, health professionals must be able to access and interpret new evidence. It has developed a research strategy which aims to produce and promote the use of research evidence in respiratory disease management and to equip health professionals with the skills needed to interpret scientific data.

Consultancy

Education for Health works collaboratively and also acts on a consultancy basis to support initiatives designed to improve the organisation and delivery of patient care.

International Role

The National Respiratory Training Center has an increasingly high profile in the international arena.   January 2002 saw the development of the National Respiratory Training Center in the USA, a non-profit organization based in North Carolina, which runs an increasing number of Asthma and COPD programs throughout the USA.  In addition, Education for Health is frequently asked to work collaboratively and in consultation with teams based in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Trainers Network

Are you interested in becoming a Trainer with Education for Health?

Education for Health has around 90 Trainers based throughout the UK, with a further 25 Trainers world wide. Trainers are practising clinicians from a variety of health professional backgrounds and include specialist nurses, practice nurses, hospital physicians, general practitioners, pharmacists and physiotherapists. They are experts in the management of respiratory, allergic or cardiovascular disease within their own field of practice. Learn more about becoming a Trainer...