Nurses share their experience of working abroad

Courtney Sandham and Emily Lancashire, former Highfield pupils, recently spent three weeks in Ghana, Africa, on work experience.

Blackpool South Rotary President Eric Hind hosted an evening in partnership with the Superintendent Gerry 
Richardson Trust at Blackpool Park Golf Club, which gave the second year trainee nurses a chance to describe their trip.

They funded the visit with the help of their families, using their savings and by working at Dunelm, Blackpool.

They also took on additional jobs and received a £320 grant from their university, UCLan.

Jeff Meadows, from the Gerry Richardson Trust, learned that they needed money for their final vaccinations.

He liaised with his Trust colleagues and Emily and Courtney each received a grant of £250.

Jeff said: “The girls were so appreciative and volunteered to give a presentation on their return.

“The audience saw two trainee nurses who really cared about the adults, children and infants they treated in Ghana and who experienced first hand how the medics there managed with such very basic equipment, beds, wheelchairs and drugs to treat patients.

“These two very special young nurses were deeply affected by their experience which was so worthwhile.

“What was special for the girls on the night was that they were able to meet Blackpool South member, orthopaedic and trauma surgeon Steve Mannion and his guest orthopaedic clinical officer Sandy Chimangeni, from Malawi , who was on a trip to the UK.

“To round off the evening, Blackpool South honorary member and patron of the Gerry Richardson Trust, comedian Tony Jo, performed a very funny comedy spot.”