Cambridge Regional College Opens £150k Hospital Simulation Ward to Train Next Generation of Frontline NHS Workers 

• £150,000 investment brings state-of-the-art clinical facility, The Ward, to Cambridge Regional College to tackle regional healthcare workforce pressures. 
  
  
• Officially launched on Friday 25th September in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with leaders from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridge Regional College. 
  
  
• Equipped with interactive patient mannequins to prepare T Level Health students for the frontline. 
  
  
• Strategic partnership with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s Hospital) and Royal Papworth Hospital creating opportunities for industry placements. 

Cambridge Regional College (CRC) has officially launched The Ward, a £150,000 hospital simulation facility at its Cambridge Campus designed to give students the ultimate launchpad into frontline NHS careers. 

The new clinical facility was officially opened on Friday 25th September with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Julia Schumann-Pratt, Work Experience and Widening Participation Lead at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, alongside Kate da Costa, Deputy Principal – Curriculum at Cambridge Regional College. 

The launch event was attended by Bridie Topple, Head of Care, Health and Early Years, alongside CRC health lecturers, clinical technicians, and the college’s first cohort of T Level Health students.

Recreating the realistic environment of an NHS hospital ward, The Ward prepares students for the frontline, helping to address workforce shortages and the 25,000 vacant nursing roles nationwide. 

Supported by Department for Education (DfE) T Level capital funding alongside college investment, students will train using interactive patient mannequins. Operated by occupationally experienced CRC lecturers, the mannequins can speak, exhibit altered breathing, and simulate sudden medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes, or severe allergic reactions, recreating realistic environments where a patient’s condition can deteriorate rapidly in real time. 

CRC lecturers and support staff have undergone professional development to operate the advanced simulation equipment, aligning scenario training with live clinical guidelines. Within this simulated clinical environment, students master essential clinical skills, including ECG monitoring, blood pressure checks, administering injections, line management (PICC lines and catheters) and wound care. 

 T Level Health students at Cambridge Regional College demonstrating patient vital checks and clinical procedures using high-fidelity simulation mannequins during the official opening of The Ward.

With industry placements embedded into the T Level curriculum, the College partners with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s Hospital) and Royal Papworth Hospital to give students real-world clinical experience. Completing over 300 hours of placement, students put their skills into practice alongside experienced NHS nursing teams. 

Mark Robertson, Principal and CEO of Cambridge Regional College, said: 

“The future of regional healthcare relies on creating seamless pathways from education into practice. The Ward gives our Health Care students a fantastic head start, allowing them to build professional confidence and competence before stepping onto a real hospital ward and their continued professional development. It reflects our commitment to training world-class talent for our local and regional NHS.” 

Julia Schumann-Pratt, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“Partnering with Cambridge Regional College is central to how we build a skilled, resilient nursing workforce for our region. The Ward provides an incredible foundation for learners and our close collaboration with CRC ensures students enter industry placements with the clinical competence and patient care standards needed from day one.” 

The launch of The Ward directly supports the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which emphasises expanding domestic education and training pathways to build a sustainable workforce for regional healthcare providers. 

The first cohort of T Level Health (Supporting the Adult Nursing Team) students began utilising The Ward this September. The two-year Level 3 qualification offers a direct route into NHS employment, higher apprenticeships, or degree-level nursing qualifications.

Interested in a career in nursing?

Our T Level Health (Supporting the Adult Nursing Team) course gives students the knowledge, skills and industry experience needed to progress into NHS careers, higher apprenticeships or university-level nursing qualifications.

Find out more about our T Level Health course starting in September 2027:

Want to see The Ward for yourself? Visit one of our upcoming Open Days to explore our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our teaching staff and discover where a career in healthcare could take you.