Facilities within the School of Health Professions
Supporting teaching and research across the breadth of allied health professions
State-of-the-art facilities
Within the School of Health Professions, we are committed to shaping our students into the best health professionals they can be.
Our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment help students maximise their potential and develop their core skills, preparing them to embark on exciting and rewarding careers.
Clinical skill simulation
Simulated practice requires a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills to keep our patients and service users safe. When learning skills, students need an understanding of why, when and how each action is best carried out – this is where our clinical skills labs come in. They enable students to:
- Learn skills at their own pace without the pressure of getting it right first time
- Receive support from peers and lecturers
- Practice in a safe environment
- Develop professionalism ready to go out on placement.
InterCity Place
InterCity Place is set to be the new home for the Faculty of Health and is a demonstration of the University’s commitment to training the next generation of health professionals. This multi-million-pound project is regenerating an 11-storey building that overlooks Plymouth Railway Station and the city centre.
It will provide state-of-the-art facilities and equipment which will be used to train future dietitians, occupational therapists, optometrists, paramedics, physiotherapists, podiatrists, nurses and midwives.
Proposed facilities include:
- Biomechanics and neurophysiology labs
- Community home simulation suites
- Immersive simulation and control rooms
- Hospital simulation wards
- Optometry skills suites
- Paramedicine skills suites
- Physiotherapy skills labs
- Podiatry skills suites
- Social learning spaces
- And many more.
Based at our main campus, it will enable our health professions students to access facilities at the University’s hub. There will also be additional education services, enabling staff to work together in one location to support the future health workforce.
Intercity Place external mock-up
Biomechanics and neurophysiology lab
Community home simulation suite
Paramedicine skills lab
Podiatry skills suite
Social learning space and café
Peninsula Allied Health Centre (PAHC)
The PAHC is a purpose-built multi-million-pound building that is currently home to the School of Health Professions. It is the training centre for dietetics, occupational therapy, optometry, paramedicine, physiotherapy and podiatry students.
Based at our North Campus, the PAHC is in close proximity to Derriford Hospital – Plymouth’s main teaching hospital – and the Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry based at the John Bull Building. There are regular bus links between the city centre and PAHC, which are subsidised by the University.
As well as having two fully equipped lecture theatres, seminar rooms and computing facilities, you'll have access to modern, purpose-built specialist skills laboratories and excellent research facilitiesThese include:
- A dietetics food preparation kitchen
- A human movement and function laboratory
- Occupational therapy skills labs
- Optometry skills labs
- Paramedicine simulation suites
- Physiotherapy skills labs
- Podiatry skills labs.
Dietetics skills lab
Human function and movement lab
Optometry skills lab
Paramedicine simulation suites
Physiotherapy skills labs
Podiatry skills lab
Centre for Eyecare Excellence (CEE)
The CEE is our state-of-the-art teaching facility for optometry students. Situated near the main campus, it is a fully functioning clinic and offers students the opportunity to practice on real patients in their final year of study. It aims to provide eye care services to the Plymouth community and beyond.
Our clinic is separated into two sites; the second site is on the second floor of the Wellbeing Centre, which accommodates many of our specialist clinics. Both are within a five-minute walk of each other. Equipped with the latest instrumentation as well as optically trained and fully qualified staff, students have the opportunity to build upon the theory they have learnt in their first two years of study and gain experience in a range of specialist areas, including:
- Primary care
- Contact lenses
- Low vision
- Binocular vision and colourimetry
- Dispensing
- Emergency eye care
- Specialist stroke and glaucoma clinics
- And many more.
In addition, the CEE represents a shared regional hub for networking and furthering education while growing as a valuable source of information and guiding new talent. It connects students with clients, practicing optometrists and potential employers.
