University given £450k for pharmacy facilities

The University of Suffolk is developing new labs for its new pharmacy course

A university has been awarded more than £450,000 to develop facilities for a new pharmacy course.

The University of Suffolk, based in Ipswich, was given a grant of £457,600 from the Office for Students (OfS).

It will use the money to develop its clinical and laboratory teaching facilities, with the postgraduate course launching in September.

Prof Rachel Allen, provost at the university, said staff could not wait for the first cohort of students to join.

According to the NHS, there is a need to increase the number of pharmacists nationally by 31-55%

Work on the facilities began in September, with new clinical suites and a mock pharmacy dispensary due to be completed in December.

Work on specialist laboratories will continue next year before the new students join.

According to an NHS report, there is a need to increase the number of pharmacists nationally by 31-55%.

Dr Georgina Marsh said the new facilities would play a key part in training the next generation of pharmacists

"Securing the Office for Students grant to develop our new pharmacy facilities is great news, and demonstrates the significant impact this will have on our future students and our ambitions to address the skills shortage in this area," Prof Allen said.

"Work is progressing well, and we cannot wait for our first cohort of new students joining in September to make the most of this brilliant new resource."

Dr Georgina Marsh, head of pharmacy at the university, added the new master's course would "play a pivotal role in training the region's future pharmacy professionals".

The funding is part of the OfS's £88.5m allocation of capital funding to universities and colleges across England.