New Clinical Centre at UEL

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists visited the University of East London (UEL) on Tuesday 29 January, to open the superb new Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine and Sports Science.

The state-of-the-art Centre for Clinical Education, part of the School of Health and Bioscience based at Stratford campus, builds on UEL’s excellent reputation for teaching and research in professional health sciences, sports science, and subjects allied to medicine.

Before arriving at UEL at 11.30, Her Royal Highness visited the SCORE in Leyton, an innovative community sport, health and regeneration centre run by Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP), which is also a base for UEL's applied sports science and coaching programmes.

At Stratford campus, Her Royal Highness toured the new Centre, and was shown the unique clinical and teaching facilities and research projects. She spent nearly two hours in the building, meeting staff and students from UEL’s School of Health and Bioscience, and partners including the Chair and Chief Executive of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists of which HRH is patron, the Chair and Chief Executive of the British Paralympics Association, Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, Tessa Sanderson CBE, and representatives of the National Institute of medical Herbalists, Newham Primary Care Trust and Stratford Renaissance Partnership.

The University of East London was the first UK institution to launch a physiotherapy degree programme in 1984, originally run at the Royal London Hospital. In 2003, UEL successfully bid for the NHS training contract to deliver Podiatry in London, previously held by University College London.

UEL’s clinical facilities for Podiatry, run in partnership with Newham Primary Care Trust, are among the best in the country, and co-locating clinical and professional education has created a number of innovations in the design and layout of the Centre. The upper floors house orthotics laboratories, a minor operations suite, and teaching laboratories for Physiotherapy, Complementary Medicine including acupuncture and herbal medicine, and Sports and Exercise Science.

The new Centre was designed by Richard Murphy Architects and built by Wallis Special Projects, part of the Kier Group. It offers state-of-the-art clinical facilities in podiatry, and teaching laboratories and clinics for physiotherapy, sports science and complementary medicine.

At a reception for over 100 distinguished guests, Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque, and was presented a posy by Claire Duguid, the newest member of staff in Podiatry.

Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall said: “Thank you all for showing me round today and teaching me all about feet. I think this is a fantastic place, and I’m very proud to be a patron of podiatry.”

Professor Martin Everett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall, has been able to join us today to open our new Centre for Clinical Education. This unique facility, developed in partnership with the NHS, is a major milestone in the provision of clinical education in London, and marks a new phase in the development of our university here in Stratford.”

This area has seen a significant boost with the advent of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. UEL is working in partnership with British Swimming, the London Borough of Newham, Newham PCT and other agencies to improve health and fitness among local residents of all ages.

Preetpal Judge (22), a third-year student on UEL’s BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatric Medicine, said: “We were showing Her Royal Highness a doppler, which checks pulses in the feet. She was fascinated by how it can indicate the overall effect of the patient.”

Neil Simmonite, Senior Lecturer in Podiatric Medecine, said: “Her Royal Highness was charming, and seemed very interested in the professional aspects of podiatry.”

Jacqueline Coolen (39), a third-year student on UEL’s BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatric Medicine, said: “The Duchess said she spends so much of her time on her feet that she could probably do with some treatment herself! Like the rest of us, she said that she often can’t wait to get home and take off her shoes. She did have nice shoes, though!”

Irum Ahmed (28), of Chigwell, who is studying a Combined Honours degree in Human Biology and Education, said: “I was demonstrating the effects of posture and stress mechanisms on heart rate and blood pressure. It’s been a very useful experience, as well as an enjoyable day.”

Rebecca Yates (23), of Stratford, a first-year student on UEL’s unique BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy by Situated Learning, demonstrated working with patients on crutches. She said: “Her Royal Highness told us it is a very beneficial profession. I explained I work in a hospital three days a week. It’s a great way to learn, and UEL is the only university in the UK that offers the programme.”

Lisa Nelson, Clinical Training Practitioner for Herbal Medicine at UEL, said: “I showed Her Royal Highness our herbaria, which are a traditional method of preserving plant material for identification. She told me that she used to press wild flowers when she was a child and that she’s a great believer in herbal medicine!”

Lord Rix, Chancellor of the University of East London, then hosted a lunch reception for guests in the Great Hall of University House.

Lord Rix said: “Today marks the latest phase in the development of our campus here in Stratford, but as you can see, it is part of a process of camillaforming not only our campuses, but contributing to the health, social and economic wellbeing of our region.

UEL’s School of Health and Bioscience is expanding its programmes in professional health sciences, health services management, biomedical science, and applied sports science, as well as delivering professional development programmes for health workers across the region. The School has a vibrant research culture with strengths in Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Public Health and Biomedical Sciences, and UEL's Institute for Health and Human Development is a partner in the £9.4 million Well London project.

Areas for future development include sports coaching and development; working with local authority partners to deliver sports programmes for young people, facilities and event management training; engaging and empowering local communities; and developing disability sport in partnership with the National Paralympic Association. UEL is working in partnership with other universities including Loughborough and Bath to meet the needs of elite athletes and develop sport in the community.