New £1.5 million healthcare simulation facilities have officially opened at Aston Medical School and in the School of Optometry at Aston University, Birmingham.
The facilities were formally opened by Paulette Hamilton, member of parliament for Birmingham Erdington, at a ceremony attended by university vice chancellor Professor Aleks Subic, members of the university executive and staff from the College of Health and Life Sciences.
Hamilton said: “I know from my time as a nurse how important it is to have access to good training and the latest equipment. These fantastic facilities will give students the best possible learning experience as they prepare to enter their profession, providing healthcare in Birmingham and beyond.”
Hosted by Professor Anthony Hilton, pro vice chancellor and executive dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences, guests were invited to take a tour of the facilities, which include a clinical skills simulation room that allows students to practise in emergency settings and an ocular simulation unit facility that is said to be the only one in Europe.
“We are delighted these new facilities have opened in time for the start of the new term and that students can benefit from practising their clinical skills in a variety of scenarios,” Professor Hilton commented.
Funding has allowed for the purchase of other training equipment such as a hospital grade bed and single task trainer simulation equipment, for example male and female catheterisation models, pelvic and rectal trainers, venepuncture arms, breast trainers and abdominal trainers.
Professor Subic added: “The launch of the Aston University healthcare simulation facilities marks an important milestone in the development of our digital health precinct within the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter.”
Picture: Professor Anthony Hilton, Paulette Hamilton MP and Professor Aleks Subic.
Published on page 4 of the February 2023 issue of RAD Magazine.