Wrexham Glyndwr University physio students to benefit from Health and Education Innovation Quarter

Budding physiotherapists will be among the beneficiaries of a state-of-the-art Health and Education Innovation Quarter (HEIQ) at Wrexham Glyndwr University, which was officially opened today (3 February).

Local partners and dignitaries gathered with university staff at a ribbon cutting event to mark the opening of the Health Simulation Centre, which is housed in the HEIQ. The quarter forms part of the university’s Campus 2025 strategy – an £80 million investment initiiative that will revamp and revitalise facilities in the university’s three campuses.

The quarter provides a physical home for the delivery of a range of pre- and post-registration courses for nurses and allied health professions, including physiotherapy, paramedic science, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition and dietetics and operating department practice.

We have hundreds of fully funded places every year for students wanting a career in healthcare across north Wales. This means that the region’s hospitals and care providers will have a constant stream of qualified professionals [Maria Hinfelaar]

The university was awarded the contracts for the delivery of the health programmes, following a competitive tendering process run by the Welsh Government via Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Vice chancellor Maria Hinfelaar said: ‘The official opening and ribbon cutting on our HEIQ is an immensely proud day for all at Wrexham Glyndwr University. It’s also a big moment for the local community in which we serve as we are being entrusted to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.

‘We have hundreds of fully funded places every year for students wanting a career in healthcare across north Wales. This means that the region’s hospitals and care providers will have a constant stream of qualified professionals trained by our exceptional teams looking to work and care for patients in the area.

She added: ‘The HEIQ will provide cutting-edge facilities which will enable students to go even further with their learning experiences.

Simon Stewart, faculty dean of social and life sciences at the university, said: ‘The launch of the HEIQ means that we are providing the best possible experience and training ground for our region’s next generation of health professionals. Our facilities and the technology we’re using are at the cutting-edge and, in some instances, industry-leading, which is extremely exciting.'

Some of the technology on show included gait analysis using motion capture and the use of 3D data for patient diagnosis and 360 streaming virtual headsets, as well as medical diagnostic t-shirts that simulate the assessment of real-life medical problems using mobile phone technology and contactless interaction.

To find out more about the university, visit: https://glyndwr.ac.uk