Government funds RT virtual learning

The Department of Health (DH) is to invest in virtual learning for radiotherapy students to the tune of £5 million. The move comes after recommendations from the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) in May 2007 to fund virtual learning for all radiotherapists in England.

Professor Mike Richards, the DH’s national cancer director, has invited expressions of interest from all radiotherapy service managers and higher education institute (HEI) leads for therapeutic radiography in England. To qualify for funding HEIs in England must provide programmes leading to registration as therapeutic radiographers. Radiotherapy service departments in England may also apply. The deadline is 19 October.

The money will be used to purchase VERT, which provides a virtual environment of a radiotherapy treatment room. Charlotte Beardmore, SoR’s professional support officer, commented: “This is a marvellous tool which offers the potential to really enhance students skills and learning. It will not replace clinical training with patients, but will offer students the opportunity to become skilled with the technologies, the physics aspects of treatment plans and set- ups ahead of learning in the clinical departments.

“In the longer term it is clear that this learning tool will be valuable for training the entire workforce and at all levels of practice. The project is very much supported by the SoR and we plan to work closely with the DH, Vertual Ltd, the HEIs and NHS to ensure the product is used and developed to its full potential.”

For further information on VERT visit: www.vertual.co.uk.

Click here to download a copy of NRAG’s report to Ministers.

Posted: 11/10/2007