Fake hospital wards will train the next generation of nurses in Croydon

By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter

Fake hospital wards will train the next generation of nurses in Croydon.

The borough’s new London South Bank University (LSBU) campus is now up and running with 350 students across give courses.

Replica emergency rooms are used by student nurses and the campus will offer chiropractic courses – the only university in the capital to do so.

David Phoenix, LSBU vice chancellor, said: “There’s no better example of our university’s mission to transform lives, communities and society than LSBU Croydon which will train the next generation of nurses and business leaders.

“LSBU Croydon will have state-of-the-art labs that replicate real-life wards to give students the skills they need to provide first-class care to patients and help the NHS tackle the severe shortage of nurses across London and the South East.

“Croydon’s first university campus will change the lives of local people by providing first class health care services to treat patients and support for local businesses to grow.”

The university campus is based at Electric House, an office building that has been empty since 2013.

The Art Deco building dates back to the early 1940s and was used as an electricity showroom by the then Croydon Council.

A partnership between the university and the council was agreed back in 2019.

Croydon Council leader Hamida Ali said: “Located in the heart of our town centre, the new campus will bring a significant boost to our economy, as our businesses benefit from links with the university and we build local innovation, upskill our workforce and welcome more visitors to our town.