The new facility, located at the University of Brighton, Falmer campus, was officially opened on Tuesday 6 October. The launch event brought together colleagues from the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT), representatives from the NHS and the University of Brighton, along with guests from the health and education sectors.
Attendees heard addresses from Siobhan Melia, SCFT Chief Executive, Professor Donna Whitehead, University of Brighton Vice Chancellor, and Dr Angela Glynn, Executive Dean of the College of Health, Education and Public Life. Following the speeches, guests toured the clinic, meeting podiatrists, students, and patients.
This new NHS podiatry clinic integrates NHS care with practice-based education. It is designed to train future podiatrists and is expected to create over 4,500 additional patient appointments annually. The clinic aims to provide enhanced hands-on clinical experience for students and improve access to timely, high-quality care for patients across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove, addressing an annual referral rate of around 9,300.
The clinic's opening is particularly significant given the challenges facing the podiatry profession. Data from the Health and Care Professions Council indicates a nearly 9 per cent fall in registered podiatrists over the last five years. The Royal College of Podiatry estimates that approximately 2,319 podiatrists may leave the profession between 2024 and 2028. This underscores the importance of developing new practitioners, especially as demand for care grows, partly due to rising diabetes rates.
Students on the University's BSc (Hons) Podiatry course will benefit from direct experience working alongside NHS practitioners in a live clinical setting. Clinical placements begin in the first year and become more complex in subsequent years, allowing students to apply their learning, build confidence, and gain experience within a professional healthcare team.
The new clinic, situated within the University of Brighton's Brighton Sport & Health Complex on Village Way, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9SG, is easily accessible via Falmer railway station and regular bus services. Accessibility was a key design consideration, with improved parking, blue badge spaces, and enhanced access for people with disabilities.
“"Practice-based education is central to preparing healthcare professionals for the realities of their future careers. By bringing students and NHS practitioners together in a live clinical environment, this partnership gives our students the opportunity to learn from experts, develop their confidence and graduate ready to make a real difference to the NHS and to patients."
This initiative supports a smoother transition for graduates into NHS employment, ensuring they are work-ready. The partnership between the University of Brighton and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is highlighted as a significant milestone for students and the communities they serve.
