New partnership between University of Southampton and Hampshire Care Association embeds medical students in nursing homes

New partnership between University of Southampton and Hampshire Care Association embeds medical students in nursing homes

(IN BRIEF) The University of Southampton, in partnership with the Hampshire Care Association, has launched a pilot programme placing third-year medical students into nursing homes across Hampshire. Running from September to December 2025, the initiative provides students with practical experience in areas such as hospital discharge, dementia care, and end-of-life support, while highlighting the skills and knowledge of care home teams. Led by Dr Alex Corcoran, the placements are designed to foster collaboration and respect between health and social care, helping future doctors gain a deeper understanding of holistic, person-centred care. Participants, including Durban House in Romsey and St Ronans Care Home in Southsea, praised the programme as a groundbreaking step toward integration. Evaluation of the pilot will inform a proposed wider rollout in 2026.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOUTHAMPTON, 18-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Southampton, in collaboration with the Hampshire Care Association, has launched a new pilot programme placing third-year medical students into local nursing homes. The initiative, the first of its kind at the University, aims to bridge the divide between health and social care by providing future doctors with direct experience of the sector and its essential role in people’s lives.

Led by Dr Alex Corcoran, Year 3 Module Lead for Primary Care at the University of Southampton, the programme will see medical students paired and embedded for a day in nursing homes across Hampshire. The placements give students first-hand insight into areas such as hospital discharge, rehabilitation, prevention, complex care, end-of-life care, and the ongoing wellbeing of residents.

Dr Corcoran explained: “This pilot gives our students a powerful insight into the world of community-based care. Spending time in a nursing home allows them to experience the value of holistic, person-centred care and the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork. Fostering collaboration and respect early in medical training will bring long-term benefits for both future doctors and the care home teams they work alongside.”

Emma Heath, CEO of Hampshire Care Association, described the programme as a radical step in training future healthcare professionals: “For too long, social care has been misunderstood or overlooked. By placing medical students directly into care settings, we’re helping them see the complete picture of someone’s care journey, not just what happens in hospitals. It’s a vital step toward building a more integrated system.”

Care providers taking part in the pilot see the programme as an opportunity to highlight the expertise within nursing homes. Marie Wheeler, Registered Manager at Durban House in Romsey, said: “Nursing homes care for people with complex needs every day, often without full NHS support. This initiative allows medical students to see the realities of dementia care, chronic illness, and end-of-life support, while also recognising the skill and knowledge of our workforce.”

Andrea Pattison, Owner of St Ronans Care Home in Southsea, echoed this sentiment: “Giving students access to care homes at such an early stage in their training is an excellent way to build mutual understanding and respect across the health and social care sector. It will lead to even better outcomes for residents, while strengthening the links between medical training and frontline social care practice.”

The pilot programme will run from September to December 2025 across selected sites, with outcomes and feedback informing a planned wider rollout in 2026. By offering students practical experience and care providers a chance to influence future medical leaders, the initiative supports the national ambition of closer working between health and social care, in line with NHS and government reforms.

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SOURCE: University of Southampton