A NEW generation of healthcare workers have been inspired after 40 secondary school pupils completed week-long work experience placements with NHS Borders.

Almost 40 S3 pupils from Earlston High School, Galashiels Academy, Selkirk High School and Peebles High School took part in placements over the last couple of months.

These placements have allowed pupils to gain hands-on experience in areas including nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dental and administration.

Arranged by NHS Borders' workforce team in collaboration with local high schools’ developing the young workforce co-ordinators, the placements provided students with a comprehensive insight into the healthcare environment.

Each student spent a morning or afternoon in eight different departments throughout the week.

The programme aimed to offer broad experience of the various clinical, administrative and support service roles available in the NHS, helping young people make informed decisions about their future careers.

Feedback from participating students has been positive.

One student remarked that our staff were “very nice and approachable”, while another commented: “I got to learn a lot about jobs I hadn’t ever thought about but would actually like to do.”

Other students noted that the experience would help them “make a more informed decision when choosing a career path”, with one pupil stating that they would “definitely apply to come back for further work experience”.

Andy Carter, director of human resources at NHS Borders, said: “We were delighted to be able to provide so many local school pupils with the opportunity to gain some experience working within the healthcare environment. Their willingness to learn and engage with our staff has been inspiring.

“Programmes like these are crucial in shaping the future of healthcare and our workforce, as they allow young people to explore many different career paths and discover the important role that they could play one day in the healthcare system.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with local schools and welcoming more students in the future.”