A multi-million pound health and care quarter being built at the University of Suffolk packed with state of the art facilities is set to open in April next year, amid a surge in new health and care students.

Work is underway at the university’s Ipswich campus to transform the mothballed East Building into a fresh four-storey facility for delivering heath and care courses, which will create six-times more space than that currently used by health course students.

Among the facilities will be two six-bed hospital wards, a child ward, midwifery space, a fully-working radiography suite, psychology lab, paramedic space and virtual simulation room.

The project, which has secured funding from the Government’s £25million Towns Fund, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and the clinical commissioning groups, is currently under construction with the keys likely to be handed over shortly after Christmas ahead of an April 2022 opening.

Bury Mercury: How the psychology suite at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter will look when it opens in 2022. Picture: Blue Cube Studios LtdHow the psychology suite at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter will look when it opens in 2022. Picture: Blue Cube Studios Ltd (Image: Blue Cube Studios Ltd)

It comes at a crucial time as demand for spots on health and care courses are said to be at “unprecedented numbers”.

Dr Paul Driscoll-Evans, dean of the school of health sciences, said: “The new health and wellbeing quarter is really in place in response to the significant growth we have in health student numbers.

Bury Mercury: Dr Paul Driscoll-Evans, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of SuffolkDr Paul Driscoll-Evans, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Suffolk (Image: Picture:James Fletcher)

“We have seen about 30% increase in the last four years and we are seeing an unprecedented number applying for health courses – particularly with the Covid pandemic.”

Bury Mercury: A CGI of how the six-bed ward at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter will lookA CGI of how the six-bed ward at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter will look (Image: Blue Cube Studios Ltd)

He said the health quarter will be “a space that will transform how we deliver provision,” and added: “With this investment we genuinely have the most state-of-the-art campus health facilities in the country”.

The facility will host the new Integrated Care Academy – a tie-up between the university, NHS partners and Suffolk County Council to improve patient care and achieve better clinical services.

Bury Mercury: External clinic entrance at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter. Picture: Blue Cube Studios LtdExternal clinic entrance at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter. Picture: Blue Cube Studios Ltd (Image: Blue Cube Studios Ltd)

Priorities for the academy include optimal mental health and wellbeing, better quality of life for aging people, and top end of life care.

It will see students working with industry professionals, while space at the new health quarter will also host health services members of the public can use such as Suffolk Mind services and physiotherapy – a key part of the university’s pledge to have a community impact.

Around 200 nurses, 50 paramedics and 20 physiotherapists are set to be trained in the new facilities each year.

Bury Mercury: A CGI design of the East Building internal sports room at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter. Picture: Blue Cube Studios LtdA CGI design of the East Building internal sports room at the University of Suffolk's new health and wellbeing quarter. Picture: Blue Cube Studios Ltd (Image: Blue Cube Studios Ltd)