10 November 2011

Australia’s largest student training facility in a private hospital has been opened in a partnership between Greenslopes Private Hospital and The University of Queensland.

The Greenslopes Clinical School will provide more than 400 in-hospital training places, including 350 for medical students. Physiotherapy, pharmacy and occupational therapy students will also be based at the state-of-the-art facility.

Greenslopes Private Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mark Page said the facility – a world class tertiary hospital with a comprehensive range of inpatient and day services across all major adult specialities – was an ideal setting for a teaching node.

“Greenslopes can offer a training environment with a complexity similar to a public hospital. This ensures students have exposure to the health care settings required for their development,” he said.

Faculty of Health Sciences Executive Dean Professor Nicholas Fisk, said the clinical school represented a new and valuable link with the private health sector.

“This major partnership with Greenslopes and parent company, Ramsay Health Care – Australia’s largest private hospital operator – helps to secure the training of hundreds of future health professionals,” Professor Fisk said.

“Integration of this training hub in the heart of a major private hospital offers a range of new opportunities, including enabling students to work closely with other disciplines preparing them for the teamwork that is increasingly important to achieving excellent patient outcomes.”

The $13m facility, which features a simulation lab, simulation ward, and learning and administration spaces, was officially opened today by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Ms Nicola Roxon.

The facility was funded by $16.5m in grants from the Federal Government, including $2.4m for student training programs and $1.1m for emergency medicine training.

Media inquiries: Marlene McKendry (0401 996 847, m.mckendry@uq.edu.au)