First aid update keeps our guests safe

The NRC team refreshed our skills with Safe Haven First Aid Training at the end of May – a brilliant and informative day. A big thanks to Paul for running such a great course, leaving us well-equipped to look after all our guests.

Exam season is in full swing so we are doing our best to ensure everyone feels as comfortable as possible. ABDO College’s senior optical assistant exams earlier this month ran very smoothly, as did the theory exams that have been taking place sporadically here over the last few weeks.

We hosted the Hakim Group of independent opticians earlier this month for a preparation day for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This is a practical assessment used in healthcare education to evaluate clinical skills. 

The team maximised their use of our clinical bay facilities, creating the most accurate experience possible for the students. It’s the best opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them before the real thing. Around 20 people took part. We appreciate the Hakim Group using the NRC time and time again for their events.

The ABDO exams team will be at the NRC until mid-July, using both the fourth and fifth floors and clinical bay facilities for optical dispensing and contact lens exams.

We have around 30 candidates per day rotating through the various sections, plus a team of 11 experienced examiners and three probationary examiners.

Looking ahead, please save the date for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) Clinical Conference: Sunday 12 and Monday 13 October here at the NRC.

Bookings open on Tuesday 1 July. Places are limited so please make a note in your diary so you don’t miss out on securing your space at this year’s conference, which is set to be an unmissable event!

• The NRC is now on Instagram. Our page will feature content that you can’t find on our other social channels. Follow us on @nrcbirmingham for updates – including hard-won exam advice from people who have been there.