WATCH: Mock birthing pool, ambulance and patients feature in Walsall training centre
New multi-million pound nursing and healthcare training facilities have opened at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall Campus.
It is hoped that the £4.8 million centre will help bridge the skills gap and reduce the current shortage of healthcare staff.
The building includes innovative teaching rooms and caters for an increase in students on courses such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy and paramedic science.
WATCH: Take a tour of the new facilities
Among the facilities are multi-disciplinary laboratory spaces including mock hospital ward rooms, a bedsit, terraced house, bathing pool and ambulance.
Professor Geoff Layer, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "The skills gap in healthcare is well known and our investment in healthcare facilities across our campuses is part of our commitment to meeting this need.
"There is a shortage of nurses and other healthcare workers in the UK and we are working closely with the hospital trusts in our region to identify their needs and how we can grow our provision to meet demand."
The building, named after Sister Dora who dedicated her life to nursing, was opened by Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, the former chief nurse at Health Education England and a previous student and staff member of the university.
The development includes a two-storey extension to existing facilities in the Institute of Health on Gorway Road.
Students will be able to use the latest technology, including a computerised anatomic model which allows them to 'see inside' the human body.
Dr Alex Hopkins, dean of the faculty of education, health and wellbeing, said: "Our new health labs at the Walsall Campus have been designed with the needs of our students and the professionals they will enter right at the heart of our plans.
"Our courses are all professionally accredited and we work closely with healthcare providers to provide our students with the right tools and the right environment for a challenging and rewarding career in the sector."
The project was designed by architects Broadway Malyan and Speller Metcalfe was the main build contractor with Gleeds as project managers.
Bill Cave, operations director at Speller Metcalfe, said: "We are delighted to see the successful completion of Sister Dora skills and simulation suite.
"This has been down to the collaborative approach of the project team, resulting in state-of-the-art facilities that will provide students with the opportunity to learn new skills using the most modern healthcare techniques."
