The University of Suffolk is constructing a £13 million health center On the Ipswich shoreline that will be open to the public.
Construction is underway and the university’s health courses have seen a 25% surge in applications in the last year.
Students will learn in a “state-of-the-art clinical simulation facility,” according to Dr. Paul Driscoll-Evans, dean of health and sports science.
It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2022.
“We are here and situated in the heart of our community, What we want to do is make sure we develop graduates who can make a difference,” said Dr Driscoll-Evans.
He said that this year’s cohort was the university’s largest ever.
“We’ve got ambitions to grow. The current pandemic has taught us all how important it is that we have got qualified health care professionals on board,” he said.
Through the center, the University of Suffolk hopes to expand its services and annually train 600 nurses, 150 paramedics, 180 midwives, 170 radiographers, and 75 physiotherapists.
From next September, the university will offer physiotherapy at the center for the first time.
Two floors of brand-new clinical simulation facilities, two state-of-the-art hospital wards, a midwifery birthing unit, and a new sports and fitness center will be housed in the building.
It will also house the Integrated Care Academy, a collaboration between Suffolk County Council, the university, and NHS partners to improve patient care and clinical services.
In addition to its own funds, the University of Suffolk got £4 million from the LEP’s Getting Building Fund and £2.5 million from the NHS to build the center.
