LIFE Centre opens aiming to inspire NHS staff of the future

The LIFE Centre, which stands for Learning Inspirations for Future Employment, aims to “inspire, educate and support a wide range of students from the age of five upwards to promote a career in healthcare with the NHS”, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals say.

The new environment includes mocked up ward areas including an A&E department, triage room and x-ray room, for students to experience what it’s like to work in a variety of professional roles.

Chief executive Karen Partington, inset, said: “This new facility will make a real difference to the local community and NHS organisations more broadly, so we couldn’t be happier that we are able to provide, with funding and support from Health Education England and other local partners, this amazing facility based at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital.”

The centre officially opened on April 27 enabling local schoolchildren to try out all the equipment on show.

A mobile education unit will also visit local schools and colleges to provide easier access to healthcare career opportunities.

Widening participation manager at LTH, Jackie Higham, described it as “an absolutely brilliant facility” with “an opportunity to learn in a real life setting”.