The Open University

‘Our cities cannot become age-friendly without considering technology’ – paper investigates the need for improvements in urban design

23 September 2019

Academics from The Open University and The Hague University of Applied Science have published a paper with recommendations for a new smart age-friendly environment for developed cities in the western world. Building on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) original model, the new proposed framework considers the rapid pace in which technology develops. According to the […]

The Open University partners with Care UK to deliver Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship in UK prisons

11 September 2019

The Open University has partnered with Care UK to deliver a Nursing Associate Higher Apprenticeship to Health Care Support Workers (HCSWs) who are employed across more than 40 prison and young offender establishments where healthcare services are provided by Care UK’s Health in Justice division. The first cohort of 11 HCSWs, from HMP Isle of […]

Could a ‘No Deal’ Brexit increase the UK’s suicide rates?

9 September 2019

Suicide is a devastating event, affecting individuals, families and societies. It is widely associated with mental ill health and the focus of suicide prevention campaigns is often on individual level interventions such as improving awareness and willingness to use community and health services. However, suicide is also associated with social factors such as unemployment and […]

OU launches scholarship fund to support carers

10 June 2019

The Open University has this week launched The Carers Scholarships Fund, which will provide 50 UK-based carers with a full fee-waiver scholarship of up to £18,000 to study an OU course of their choice. To ensure young adult carers are encouraged to apply, 15 places have been reserved for those between the ages of 18-28. […]

The Open University and NHS in partnership to boost nursing numbers on the Isle of Wight

4 June 2019

The Isle of Wight (IOW) NHS Trust and The Open University are collaborating to deliver a three-year apprenticeship programme with investment of over £2m* from the Trust’s Apprenticeship Levy, to increase the number of registered nurses and nursing associates on the island. With 120 nursing vacancies on the island, the programme will widen access and […]

Life on the frontline of nursing – pioneer student discusses her journey with the OU

29 May 2019

Pioneer student, Jacky looks back at her life and study with The Open University, spanning over 40 years. She succeeded in becoming the only registered nurse at her hospital to have a degree and after completing further study with the OU, she launched a new career as a Nursing Tutor. “I was born and raised […]

Remove barriers to reduce nursing deficit by 13 per cent, says The Open University

17 May 2019

The Open University is calling on higher education institutions (HEIs) and NHS employers to address barriers to the nursing profession that are contributing to the UK’s chronic shortage of nurses. This comes as data secured by The Open University under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000[i], reveals that one in 20 (6%) places available […]

Jeremy Kyle Show: a psychologist explains the risks in reality TV and how aftercare should be done

17 May 2019

John Oats, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at The Open University writes for The Conversation about the psychological risks of reality television, following the news that The Jeremy Kyle Show has been taken off air. The psychological impacts of participating in broadcast productions can be much greater than broadcasters and producers may realise. This was […]

Looking Both Ways – spotlight on ageing and bisexuality

16 May 2019

As we mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May, Dr Rebecca Jones, Senior Lecturer in Health at The Open University discusses ageing and bisexuality as part of the Looking Both Ways research project, which she led alongside Professor Kathryn Almack (now at the University of Hertfordshire) and Dr Rachael Scicluna, a […]

Appendix removal: does it really increase your risk of getting Parkinson’s disease?

14 May 2019

Kevin McConway, The Open University writing for The Conversation. Recent scary press reports suggest that having your appendix out could triple your risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. Given that there is currently no cure for this neurodegenerative condition, people who have had their appendix out might be quite worried. But worrying, at this point, would […]

OU News

Category: Health