Lord Darzi opens new nurse education facility

Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham KBE officially opened Buckinghamshire New University’s new Uxbridge Campus on Tuesday 8 December.

Professor Darzi unveiled a commemorative plaque at 106 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, in a ceremony marking the move of the University’s nursing courses and applied healthcare research to West London.

Professor Darzi is an internationally renowned surgeon and served as the Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department of Health until July 2009. He currently heads the Division of Surgery at Imperial College, and serves as Chair of NHS Global and the Global Ambassador for Health and Life Sciences.

Located within walking distance of the Uxbridge rail station, the new campus offers easy access to central London and the University’s High Wycombe Campus. Following extensive refurbishment by ITC Concepts, the new campus features cutting-edge facilities, including skills laboratories, a library and cafe.

The University’s partnership with HP and Cisco enables employees and students to keep in touch with colleagues in High Wycombe using the most up-to-date technology, including a converged voice, video and data network.

Prof David Sines, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean: Society & Health at Bucks New University, said: “We were delighted to welcome Lord Darzi for this prestigious occasion to mark the opening of our new Uxbridge Campus. We provide nursing education for NHS London, and our new location enables our undergraduate students to be closer to their placement providers and our professional students to study closer to their workplaces. We hope that the new campus will become a beacon for new and innovative methods of learning, leading, ultimately, to higher standards in healthcare.“

Lord Darzi said: “I am pleased to be opening Buckinghamshire New University’s new campus in Uxbridge. Bucks New University demonstrates excellence in nursing education, an achievement which has been acknowledged by NHS London.”

Bucks New University was ranked number one for nursing out of nine universities working in partnership with NHS London, following the introduction of a new measuring system in December 2008.

The opening of the new building marks a significant milestone in the University’s goal to build facilities which enhance the experiences of all Bucks students. Students are also benefiting from a new complex at the High Wycombe Campus, which opened its doors to students this term, and new accommodation in Hughenden, High Wycombe.