Ambitious plans have been lodged with planners for a major multi-million pound centre which will put Aberdeen at the vanguard of teaching medical students and training health professionals.
The University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian are joint partners in proposals to build a £16 million purpose-built facility - thought to be the first of its kind in the UK - at Foresterhill.
Through its location and the provision of essential state-of-the-art facilities, the new Matthew Hay building will facilitate two important developments in medical education and training: the full integration of teaching of anatomy with the development of clinical skills and knowledge of disease by medical students, and the enhancement of inter-professional teaching and learning. The latter reflects the crucial role of team working in the delivery of healthcare.
Currently the University’s Department of Anatomy is based at Marischal College, in the centre of Aberdeen, where it is remote from the main campus at Foresterhill.
This has prevented new students from integrating into the medical student community until well into their second year. The location has also precluded anatomy from being integrated into clinical skills training for practitioners at all stages of their careers.
Also, the teaching of essential clinical skills – such as resuscitation, examination and communication skills – presently takes place at a pre-fabricated building which has reached the end of its lifespan. The outdated design of the Westburn Centre, which is based at Foresterhill, also hinders the modern teaching of clinical skills.
The Matthew Hay project will reverse all of that and place Aberdeen at the forefront of medical teaching and learning.
More key national and international conferences could be lured to Aberdeen as the building also features a 220-seater lecture theatre. The centre will also feature first-class conference facilities on its top floor which could open onto a planted rooftop terrace with spectacular views across the city.
The University and NHS Grampian have committed £12 million towards the project. The project will seek to fundraise at least a further £4.5 million to ensure the centre is a truly outstanding facility.
Award-winning architects Bennetts Associates have designed the four-storey building which could be clad in larch, cedar or oak, hopefully sourced from Scotland. The architects have strived to make plans as environmentally friendly as possible, making the most of natural light, and designing its structure so that the building’s heating and cooling can be controlled in more sustainable way.
The buildings features include:
· Anatomy teaching space and a resource centre
· A simulated ward area where students and staff can learn essential clinical skills
· Comfortable facilities for the dedicated group of volunteer “patients” who support the teaching of clinical skills
· A 220-seat lecture theatre
· An IT suite running the most up-to-date training applications and a room for innovative simulators for training, including the UK’s first “sim-baby”
· Modern teaching, learning and discussion facilities including break-out spaces, a café and social spaces which will encourage discussion and interprofessional working
· A museum area which will tell the story of the history of medicine in the North-east and the contribution it has made to the world
John Miller, the lead architect, said: “The project team has benchmarked the proposals against other recent projects around the country and are convinced that the Matthew Hay project can provide Aberdeen with the finest facilities in the UK.”
Professor Mike Greaves, Head of the University’s School of Medicine, said; “Knowledge of human anatomy is essential in a range of scientific areas and is fundamental to medical practice. The new facility will allow a higher profile to be given to anatomy teaching, delivered in state-of-the-art facilities.
“In addition the centre will facilitate teaching and revision of essential clinical skills and will foster joint teaching and learning and continuing professional development among a range of health professionals.”
Professor Hamish McKenzie, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medicine, said: “Medical training in Aberdeen has a high reputation worldwide and this exciting new development will further enhance it in the 21st Century.”
Dr Rona Patey, Director, Clinical Skills Centre at Foresterhill, said: “We are very excited that this development will provide an outstanding resource and inspiration for the education and training of NHS staff both now and in the future.
“The opportunities available for collaboration in training and research into education between the University and the NHS in the North-east of Scotland will be second to none.”
Angus Donaldson, the University’s Director of Estates, added: “This is another positive development by the University and is part of a £228 million redevelopment of our campus which will take place over the next 10 years.
“The completion of our Matthew Hay project will mean the University vacates Marischal College which will allow Aberdeen City Council to progress with their plans for the building.”
The Matthew Hay project plans have just been lodged with Aberdeen City Council. If all goes to plan, construction is expected to take approximately 15 months with September 2008 the current target for completion.