This is an outline of the events, and may not be wholly accurate. If you would like to add other information, such as personal involvement, other meetings etc. or you find any errors please email David Wright.
December 1992
Letter from Deaf Professionals in Mental Health requesting David Wright (DW) attend a meeting to discuss Deaf people’s access to Nurse Education.
February 1993
DW’s First meeting with Deaf Professionals in Mental Health.
April 1993
Met with Deaf Professionals in Mental Health to discuss the idea of deaf people accessing mental health nurse training.
May 1993
Short discussion paper submitted to Dean of the Sheffield and North Trent College of Nursing and Midwifery (SNTC) [now the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sheffield].
June 1993
Discussions with Dean and Director of Academic Affairs (SNTC)
August 1993
First meeting with English National Board (ENB) and Director of Academic Affairs (SNTC)
Visits to the specialist units to discuss training, placement and registration issues.
ENB request a proposal for consideration.
September 1993
Working group (David Wright, representatives from specialist units and SNTC) established for development of proposal for ENB, arranging visits to the specialist units meetings to discuss content/issues.
October 1993
Meeting between SNTC and TRHA
October 1993 to February 1994
Visits to specialist units in preparation for developing proposal to ENB
December 1993
Draft proposal prepared - meeting to discuss content.
November 1994
Meeting between SNTC and TRHA Regional Nurse (Education).
January 1994
Further questions for proposal sent to specialist units
Proposal (Deaf persons’ access to Nurse education) sent to Trent Regional Health Authority (TRHA) and invited to discussions re: funding of places.
March 1994
Proposal (Deaf persons’ access to Nurse education) for ENB compiled. Following meeting of representatives from specialist units, SNTC, TRHA.
April 1994
British Deaf News publish news item (Deaf people to qualify as nurses) prematurely.
May 1994
Proposal (Deaf persons’ access to Nurse education) forwarded to ENB [following review by the specialist units and Director of Academic Affairs].
June 1994
Response to British Deaf News item published.
July 1994
ENB National level discussion and response to proposal (Deaf persons’ access to Nurse education). Request for further information in support of project - deaf people in Higher Education and deaf people as nurses/health care workers/professionals.
September 1994
David Wright (SNTC) & Joe Kellett (SNTC) present Issues arising from a proposal for deaf persons to have access to nurse education at the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness conference Progress through equality, Manchester.
Further meeting with ENB York (Specialist Education Officer, Mental Health).
October 1994
Meeting at Bournville College, Birmingham to discuss European funding.
April 1994
European partners not found for European funding - no bid submitted.
April 1994
Sheffield and North Trent College of Nursing amalgamate with the University of Sheffield, Faculty of Medicine as the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Slowing down of projects and developments during transition.
September 1994
Discussion with University support staff to clarify position of University in supporting project and looking at differences between University and health trusts admission policies.
November 1994 to February 1995
Discussions between ENB, School of Nursing and Midwifery and University
May 1995
Further evidence of deaf people’s fit for purpose sought. Questionnaire published in British Deaf News and on Read Hear (BBC 2 Ceefax 710) and a number of letters to specialist units, DPMH and individuals.
September 1995
Report - Deaf people’s access to nurse education completed and sent to ENB for consideration.
November 1995
Report to be discussed at ENB meeting. Several meetings postponed.
February 1996
Meeting with Alice Thacker, members of the specialist units and St. George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London to discuss funding issues and possible ways forward.
June 1996
National ENB meeting (London) agreed to support project.
News item appears in Nursing Times 92(28) 6
July 1996
Meeting with ENB and School of Nursing and Midwifery planned to discuss way forward.
August 1996
Discussions with administrators to work out costings and meetings with
to November ‘96 International Department with regards to EC funding.
November 1996
Costings of access formulated by University.
December 1996
‘Training Consortium’ meeting to discuss funding of students and programme access.
1997
Several meetings between School of Nursing and Midwifery, the International Department (University of Sheffield) and the Training Consortia.
Funding is not realised.
1998
DW undertakes study leave for PhD project and is unable to continue with Deaf Peoples’ Access Project.
1998-1999
Meetings continue between ENB and the National Centres for Mental Health and Deafness and other interested parties.
April 1999
ENB announces Educational Opportunities for Deaf People in the ENB News.
January 2000
Salford University advertise for lecturer to undertake project development.
September 2000
Salford University to take six deaf students into their mental health nursing programme. Students due to complete in September 2003. Contact Naomi Sharples (n.sharples@salford.ac.uk) for more information. Also see:
DEMOS: Deaf People's Access to Nurse Education Project
http://jarmin.com/demos/resource/nurse/index.html
Naomi Sharples, Nurse Tutor at the University of Salford, describes some of the project management issues surrounding an innovative project to recruit deaf people into Mental Health Nursing.
September 2003
First Deaf nursing students graduate.
Copyright 1999 © David J Wright
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