Waters Green Medical Centre, located in Macclesfield, houses 6 GP surgeries, collectively serving the community of Macclesfield Town. Over the last few years, there has been a noticeable rise in the demand for talking therapies among patients. Unfortunately, this surge in demand has led to a worrying situation where patients who require these essential therapies are confronted with a long waiting period before they can access the assistance they urgently require.
Macclesfield College has built a reputation for its exceptional counselling courses. As part of their Level 4 diploma program, it is a mandatory requirement for students to secure a counselling placement, which requires completing 100 hours of practical experience. However, achieving this placement has become increasingly difficult due to a variety of charitable organizations and support networks shutting down in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to a lack of financial resources.
To address these pressing issues and find innovative solutions, an affiliation has been established between Macclesfield College and the Waters Green Medical Centre. This collaboration empowers counselling students to fulfil their placement requirements at the medical centres` surgeries. Simultaneously, the medical centre can provide high-quality therapeutic services to patients in need.
Undoubtedly, this collaboration is a triumph for multiple stakeholders. Macclesfield College benefits by enabling its students to complete their required placement hours, overcoming the challenges posed by the closure of various organizations. The GP practices at Waters Green Medical Centre also gain by having a pool of dedicated counselling students contribute to the therapeutic services. Most importantly, the Macclesfield community emerges as the ultimate victor, now being able to access the crucial therapy they need, thanks to the combined efforts of the college and the medical centre.
This affiliation between Macclesfield College and the Waters Green Medical Centre stands as a shining example of innovative collaboration, where educational institutions and healthcare providers join forces to address community needs. This partnership not only benefits the educational and medical institutions but, above all, creates a positive and lasting impact on the well-being of the Macclesfield community.
