Emily Siddon Building officially opened by Dr Sarah Jarvis
The Emily Siddon Building, part of the National Health Innovation Campus at the University of Huddersfield, has been officially opened by Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE.
Dr Jarvis, a Visiting Professor and honorary doctor at the University as well as a GP and respected media healthcare expert, toured the five-floor building and unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the new facility on Southgate.
The Emily Siddon Building, named after the pioneering healthcare advocate who lived in the Huddersfield area, hosts several University courses as well as a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) operated by the NHS.
New degree courses in Diagnostic Radiography, and Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy are based in the building and make use of dedicated teaching spaces including state-of-the-art equipment. These new courses have been added to the extensive Health Profession course portfolio at the University, including the Health Foundation Pathway, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Paramedic Science, Social Work and much more.
Diagnostic Radiography students can make full use of the first MRI scanner simulator on a UK university campus, as well as X-ray machines and mannequins that accurately represent human skeletons.
Students on the Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy course use rooms with dental work stations that also include mannequins that can be altered to mimic a range of dental issues.
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The CDC is operated by the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) in partnership with the University and is the first CDC to be located on a university campus in the UK.
Opened in February, the CDC welcomes patients referred on by their GPs or hospitals in the local area for X-rays, CT or MRI scans, blood tests, ultrasound scans, lung function test and more. The unique setting of the CDC on the Huddersfield campus provides students with a real-world learning experience working under supervision with CHFT colleagues.
Dr Sarah Jarvis
Dr Sarah Jarvis shares her thoughts on the new Emily Siddon Building, the quality of the facilities, the impact they will have on students and how vital it is that students get practical, real-world experience in the CDC.
The Emily Siddon Building will also be home to the Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC), which has labs, offices and co-working spaces for local entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses working in health innovation to tackle health inequalities across West Yorkshire.
“I am not remotely surprised to say that I was overwhelmed. I had the privilege of being here for the opening of the Daphne Steele Building, and I love that the same principles apply here,” said Dr Jarvis. “The technology is extraordinary, and I enjoyed seeing the simulated MRI, and how the dental hygienists and therapists can practice on 'phantom' patients.
“This is absolute state-of-the-art teaching, which will ensure that these students have a really sound foundation in all of the skills that they need before they move on to sharing their new skills as they learn under supervision with members of the community. I am passionate about reducing health inequalities, and I love the fact that so much of the work here will benefit local communities.
“CDCs are game-changers, having one here on site makes a huge difference to the local community and also means the students will have access to all those learning opportunities under strict supervision. They will be able to hone their skills while providing care to the local community. It will reduce waiting times and Did Not Attend rates as it will be easier for people to get in but also students will have a wealth of experience from practicing their skills at the CDC.”
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE said, “We are incredibly proud of the Emily Siddon Building and its role in the development of the National Health Innovation Campus in the heart of Huddersfield.
“Our close ties to the community and to our partners at CHFT have also influenced the building being named after Emily Siddon. She was a true pioneer who strove to improve the health and mental wellbeing of the local population just over a century ago, and she broke new ground in being a woman working in influential roles that previously had been the sole preserve of men.
Dr Jarvis was shown the MRI simulator, the first in the UK, by the University's Kevin Riley
The mannequin accurately simulates a human skeleton under the X-ray machine.
Dental Hygiene and Therapy students can use dummy heads with interchangeable features.
Dr Sarah Jarvis met staff in the CDC on the ground floor of the building.
Staff demonstrated the teledermatology facilities to Dr Jarvis
“This new building and its state-of-the-art facilities, along with the Daphne Steele Building next door and the other buildings to come at the National Health Innovation Campus, sum up the University’s ethos of offering practical, real-world learning for students, enabling them to be ready to help to meet the needs of the country’s healthcare workforce.”
Director of Operations for Families and Specialist Services at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Clenton, said: “Thank you to Dr Sarah Jarvis for coming to see the fantastic work happening in our new Southgate CDC. Our second CDC, here in the heart of Huddersfield, is a key part of making sure patients can be diagnosed and treated quicker, in a comfortable environment.
“Across both our CDCs in Halifax and Huddersfield, we are now testing over 12,000 people each month, helping people access care closer to home in a more convenient way.
“As the first CDC on a University Campus in the country, it will be exciting to see our unique partnership as part of the National Health Innovation Campus develop. Students will gain valuable experience working alongside CHFT colleagues in a fantastic learning environment, helping to develop the healthcare workforce for the future.”