Highland MP Danny Alexander met student nurses - and their training “dummies” – during a tour of the University of Stirling’s base in Inverness today (Friday, October 25).
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury - who is the Lib-Dem MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey - also chatted to staff and heard about ground-breaking research as he toured the University’s Highland campus, based in the Centre for Health Sciences building in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital.
Mr Alexander was shown demonstrations of basic life support and blood pressure monitoring before meeting a life-like mannequin, used to simulate a patient with chest pain.
Mr Alexander said: "Having this incredible facility right on our doorstep is a huge benefit to the Highlands. The University of Stirling is a hidden asset for our area.
"I really want congratulate the school for the fantastic training they provide our next generation of nurses and for their pioneering work in health sciences.
"I’d also like to thank the trainee nurses for hosting me today, during their exam time, and showing me the work they are doing - including ‘HAL’ their state-of-art responsive dummy. Best of luck with the exams.”
Professor William Lauder, the head of the University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Alexander to our Highland campus.
“Our base here in Inverness provides adult nursing and mental health nursing degrees. Many students come direct from school or college; others choose to start this profession later in life, as a second career or often after raising a family. In addition, we offer a portfolio of CPD opportunities for healthcare professionals - including Masters, Doctorates and PhD programmes.
“We’re also leading research in the fields of public health, service development and health professional education.
“It was great that Mr Alexander was able to take time from his busy schedule to meet University staff and students, and some of our partners from the NHS, and to hear about our teaching and research work.
“We hope he enjoyed his visit.”
Centre for Health Science in Inverness
Danny Alexander during his tour of the University's Highland base in Inverness.