The Minister with responsibility for the University of Gibraltar, the Hon Pat Orfila, has officially inaugurated its new state-of-the-art nursing simulation suite, which significantly enhances the institution’s ability to train future healthcare professionals in a highly immersive, hands-on environment. The development of this suite has been made possible through the generous support of the Kusuma Trust.

The new facility includes a six-bed hospital ward, a treatment and triage room, a functional shower room for patient care training, and classrooms equipped with live-streaming capabilities for simulation review and analysis. It also features two specially equipped rooms simulating home environments, allowing students to develop their community nursing and counselling skills in realistic settings.

This facility is fully fitted with advanced simulation mannequins capable of replicating a wide range of clinical scenarios, from intubation to catheterisation, from code blue emergencies to palliative care. These tools allow students to practice essential nursing techniques safely, build confidence, and prepare for their future careers.

Speaking at the launch event on International Nurses Day, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gibraltar Professor Catherine Bachleda underlined how the suite reinforces the University’s mission to provide industry-relevant, globally benchmarked education: “We are committed to working closely with healthcare partners to ensure our graduates are not only highly qualified, but also job-ready. This simulation suite lies at the heart of that vision. We are extremely grateful to the Kusuma Trust, whose generous donation will serve generations of nursing and allied health students.”

The Minister for Housing and the University of Gibraltar, the Hon Pat Orfila MP, said: “Nursing is vocational, extremely demanding and very hard work. On this International Nurses Day, I take my hat off to all nurses. In the best and in the lowest moments of our lives, you will be our lifelines. There can never be enough nurses, and this simulation suite can go a long way to providing our students with the tools they require to succeed academically and professionally.”