Bolton College of Medical Sciences plan is approved

Plans have been approved for the new £30M medical skills and training facility at the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth with plans solidifying opening in 2022.

The new facility is a joint project between the University of Bolton, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton Council, and Bolton College to revolutionise how NHS employees are trained so as to alleviate staffing pressures and improve the level of care for patients.

Bolton College of Medical Sciences, as the new facility shall be known, will be the first of its kind, on account of the new model of partnership, and will create a direct route into the health and social care industry for the next generation of health and social care professionals.

Trish Armstrong-Child, Director of Nursing & Deputy Chief Executive, at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust stated: “We’re absolutely delighted that Bolton College of Medical Sciences will go ahead, and we are looking forward to working with our partners to bringing this fantastic facility to Bolton.

“Being able to train the future workforce right here on the site of the Royal Bolton Hospital is such a positive move for this area. We’re excited to see the plans become a reality.”

The Bolton College of Medical Sciences will serve as a template for other NHS foundations trusts across the country and the 7,600sq m site will include simulated hospital environments, teaching and learning spaces, associated staff and service space, a café, and a multi-storey car park.

Consisting of two buildings, the college will have a four-to-five storey education building as well as a three-to-four storey car park.

Kondal Reddy Kandadi, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, added: “We are grateful to Bolton Council for supporting and approving this strategically important planning application for building the Bolton College of Medical Sciences.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Farnworth, Bolton and the whole of Greater Manchester. This will truly transform Health Education in the region by integrating Further and Higher Education and providing holistic progression routes for students.

The college will teach 3,000 students per year once open in addition to approximately 1,000 apprentices while the construction period itself will bring £150M to the local economy and create 150 full time jobs.

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