The centre presents a unique opportunity to showcase the innovative simulation training facilities and provides leadership in nursing, midwifery, medicine and pharmacy as well as adding value to the student experience through interdisciplinary simulation provision.

The Minister was given a tour of the new centre, where he met with some of the nursing and midwifery students.

He said: “As Health Minister, I have taken a proactive approach to investing in the nursing and midwifery workforce of the future. During my tenure, I have overseen an increase in the number of pre-registration nursing and midwifery university places commissioned to a record level of 1,325 places in the 2021/2022 academic year."

Professor Fitzsimons, Head of School said: "The School of Nursing & Midwifery in Queen's are delighted to have educated the majority of these additional students across the four fields of Adult, Children's, Learning Disability and Mental Health Nursing. We have also sought to add value to the workforce by introducing the Graduate Entry MSc programme in pre-registration nursing - broadening participation to those students who have a degree already. They have the opportunity to gain their registration as a qualified nurse or midwife and a Master's level degree within two years. This is the first programme of its kind on the island of Ireland and will bring a new skill set into the NHS workforce".

The Minister continued: “I am impressed to see similar investment in the workforce of the future on the part of Queen’s University, in the form of these state of the art facilities. 

"As students, this new simulation centre will provide you with the opportunity to develop and enhance your clinical skills in order to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care through interdisciplinary simulation training. For staff, this centre will allow you to pass on your wealth of knowledge and experience to the next generation of nurses and midwives.  I thank you all for your demonstrations of how the centre will work in practice.”

Professor Morrison, Dean of Education added, "Our students have a unique opportunity to learn the complexities of clinical care shoulder to shoulder with students from Medicine, Pharmacy and Social Work in these state of the art simulation facilities in Queen's. Our new registrants will be equipped with the knowledge, behaviours and confidence to work effectively as a team and tackle the complexities of modern healthcare - providing care that puts the patient at the centre of safety and decision-making.”

Concluding the tour of the centre the Minister said: “I recognise that many of you chose to join the workforce during the pandemic and that this will have had a major impact on both your studies and clinical placements.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service and to communicate to you the extremely positive feedback my Department has received from across the region on your contribution to services during such challenging times.

“There is no question that during these unprecedented times that nurses and midwives in Northern Ireland stepped up to the plate, and indeed, you continue to meet the challenges we face in a positive, creative and solution-focused manner.  This has undoubtedly saved lives.  And as Health Minister, I am extremely proud to have such high calibre nurses and midwives, such as you, as we return to normality and begin to rebuild our services.

“Once again, thank you for inviting me today and taking the time to showcase the incredible work and facilities that you have developed to train our workforce of tomorrow.”

Media

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