The first cohort to study at a new nurse training facility has gathered to celebrate its achievements with two of the profession’s senior local figures and other key representatives from the local NHS Trusts in East Devon and Somerset. 

Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse at Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, and Ms Jane Viner, Chief Nurse at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, visited the University of Plymouth Exeter School of Nursing, located at the WESC Foundation, to mark the launch of the cohort today. 

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, Professor Judith Petts CBE, joined Professor Wilkinson-Bryce and Ms Viner to cut the ribbon and meet the students, before taking a tour of the facility.

With two campuses already offering BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult), Plymouth and Truro, the University extended its offer eastwards this year to improve student experience by decreasing travel time between homes, lectures and to and from clinical placements.

Student Emily Bowden, from Hatherleigh, explained how the school has helped her to access training that she would have struggled to reach otherwise.

“I love studying at the Exeter School of Nursing,” she said. “It’s a close knit community and the commute is a lot better for me – it’s forty minutes tops compared with over an hour to Plymouth, so as a single mum it makes life a lot easier. I love my placement too. I’m at Heavitree Hospital day case unit and I’ve had the opportunity to see various procedures from colorectal surgery to pain management clinics, it’s been great.”