A new healthcare training hub designed to improve access to community health services while training the next generation of clinicians has officially opened at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU).
The ribbon was cut on Friday 6 March at the university’s High Wycombe campus, where staff, students and community members gathered to explore the new Primary Care Training Hub.
Among those attending were Emma Reynolds MP, and the Mayor of High Wycombe, Majid Hussain, who formally opened the facility.
The Hub aims to bring education, clinical practice and community support together in one accessible space. It will be open to students, staff and local residents and will offer a range of health and wellbeing services.
Planned services include GP consultations from April, physiotherapy and musculoskeletal (MSK) services, occupational therapy, sport therapy, functional and disability assessments, and mental health support. Students will also be able to access fast-track Disability Student Allowance (DSA) assessments through the university’s Disability team.
Associate Professor Esin Turkaslan, who helped lead the development of the Hub, said it was designed to allow students and clinicians to work alongside each other while supporting the community.
“We created this space so that students, educators, clinicians and community partners can work side by side, learning from one another while developing clinical skills and delivering care that reflects the needs of our communities,” she said.
“The Hub is student-centred and provides supervised training while supporting patients, representing a shared commitment to preparing compassionate and safe healthcare professionals for the future.”
Professor Jermaine Ravalier, BNU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, said the facility would benefit both students and local residents.
“This hub is about opportunity. It will help people who might not otherwise be able to access support, while giving our students the chance to learn in a real clinical environment.”
Mayor of High Wycombe, Majid Hussain, said improving access to care locally was a key benefit. “One of the most important impacts of this Hub is access to services closer to home, access to integrated, preventative and responsive support, and access to care that truly understands the needs of the local population. This matters enormously, especially at a time when health services everywhere are under pressure.”
Dr Ashrafur Rahim, who hosts clinical placements for students at Hughenden Valley Surgeries, said:
“Initiatives like this demonstrate the power of collaboration between universities and local healthcare providers. This is more than just opening a facility; it represents a shared commitment to education, partnership and the future of healthcare.”
The Primary Care Training Hub will initially operate on Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 4pm, with the university exploring extended opening hours and the possibility of a permanent base on the High Wycombe campus.
