A NEW clinical skills room to help train doctors and nurses has opened at Ipswich Hospital.

A NEW clinical skills room to help train doctors and nurses has opened at Ipswich Hospital.

The Adair Room, named after retired Ipswich Hospital surgical consultant Humphrey Adair, provides students with equipment to learn skills including blood taking and inserting catheters.

The new centre will train students and will also be used by existing doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals 24 hours a day.

Mr Adair retired in 2005 after more than 20 years at Ipswich Hospital, but still works part time in endoscopy.

At the official opening on Friday he said: "No doubt medical training in the future will go down this path as, rightly so, patients demand doctors train in facilities like this rather than by the bedside or in operating theatres."

Diabetes consultant Gerry Rayman, clinical sub-dean responsible for medical student teaching at the hospital, said: "Since the room opened in January it has been in virtual constant use."

The room is situated in the Education Centre and has been funded by the Clinical School at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge which sends its medical students to Ipswich for training.