The official opening of the University of Nottingham’s new Cripps Health Centre - the largest single-site medical facility in the country – is taking place today.
Thanks to a transformational gift of £9m, the Cripps Foundation has been able to refresh its original vision to create a 21st-century health and wellbeing facility for students, staff and the community, unrivalled within higher education.
Robert Cripps, director of philanthropy and third-generation family representative of the Cripps Foundation, who attended the opening ceremony, said: “My family has had a relationship with the University of Nottingham. which is moving into a fourth generation.
“My grandfather and father were attracted to the university because of its support for engineering and, as the university has gone from strength to strength, we are happy to renew that support for the next generations and provide the best medical support that is available in this country.
“What is most impressive is not just the new building, but the people who work within it and provide an unparalleled degree of excellence in their service to the university community.”
This amazing new facility will allow us to continue to grow and develop our broad range of services over the coming years, ensuring we continue to offer an outstanding service to the university community
Speaking about the new flagship facility, which was designed by CPMG Architects, Dr Paul Greatrix, University of Nottingham registrar, added: “The new Cripps Health Centre offers an exemplar facility for both our university community and for generations to come.
“By investing in these new modern facilities, we are committed to further enhancing the quality of healthcare at the university and to ensure the wellbeing of our students and staff.”
Replacing the original Cripps Health Centre, which opened in 1969; the pioneering new centre boasts a list of 45,000 patients - the biggest GP register on one single site in the UK.
All active practices from the former Cripps Centre have now relocated into the new facility, which is on the other side of Cripps Hill, where the original health centre was located.
As a result of the added space and flexibility, the university has expanded its team to enable increased appointment availability and a wider range of services.
Daniel Hammersley, chief operating officer for the University of Nottingham and University of Lincoln Health Services, said: “This amazing new facility will allow us to continue to grow and develop our broad range of services over the coming years, ensuring we continue to offer an outstanding service to the university community.”
The new facility offers a holistic approach to primary health and dental care, with enhanced clinical consulting rooms, minor operations suites, a patient observation bay, physiotherapy areas, dentist treatment rooms, a pharmacy and mental health suite, as well as training rooms and offices.
he design complements the beautifully-green campus of the University of Nottingham, with natural materials and a timeless palette externally and light and bright interiors fit for a modern healthcare facility
Student welfare services remain a priority, with the new-build providing appropriate accommodation for the university mental health advisory service, with space to bring in associate staff at busy times as needed, for example providing essential crisis services.
Claire Thompson, head of student welfare, said: “The space is much less clinical and more appropriate for staff to do one-to-one therapeutic work with service users.
“Environment plays a key part in helping people to feel safe and comfortable to discuss their difficulties.”
The new health centre has also incorporated medicinal and aromatherapy plants into the courtyard garden, with an area of Chinese medicinal planting.
Nick Gregory, director of CPMG Architects, said: “We're incredibly proud to see this flagship centre completed after years of anticipation.
“It’s now the largest healthcare facility of its kind in the UK, yet it has a very human feel and scale.”
He added: “The design complements the beautifully-green campus of the University of Nottingham, with natural materials and a timeless palette externally and light and bright interiors fit for a modern healthcare facility.”
Engineering firm, Arup, provided civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering design services for the project.
It was built by Interserve and project management was carried out by Faithful and Gould.
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