New centre for trainee nurses and midwives

Student nurses, midwives and operating department practitioners are moving into their new multi-million pound school this week.

The new 38,000 square foot purpose- built  Edith Cavell building is the new home for the  training with the School of Nursing and Midwifery, which is part of the University of East Anglia’s Institute of Health. 

The state of the art school on the outskirts of the University campus is less than five minutes from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where many of the nurses, midwives and ODPs take their clinical training.  

The students are moving from their old site at Hellesdon where they were scattered across five buildings with no space to easily accommodate an increase in staff and students nor cope with the massive advances in technology. 

The building includes the latest hi-tech seminar and meeting room facilities, a new skills laboratory which replicate a hospital environment, 200 seat lecture theatre, on-site restaurant,  easy access to a student IT lab and academic and support staff.  

The name, Edith Cavell Building, was chosen in a competition among staff and students and recognises Norfolk’s most famous nurse. Many nurses, midwives and ODPs from the School go on to work in Norfolk.    

Notes: Planning for the building began in 1997 and planning approval was granted by South Norfolk District Council in 2001. 

The new technology includes wall mounted interactive whiteboards in each teaching room plus a computer, video, DVD player, sound amplifier  and control panel at each lecturer’s desk.   

Constructors Willmott Dixon started work in September 2004 and completed in December 2005 and the £10.5 million new building was delivered within budget.