FORMER newspaper offices could be open as a university health and medicine centre by Easter, named after the UK's first female physician.
The former Berrows House, the old home of the Worcester News and Berrows Journal, is in the process of being transformed by the University of Worcester.
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Gold cladding is now being fitted to the outside of the former offices in Hylton Road, St John's, and university leaders hope the new centre will be the gold standard when it comes to plugging the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals across the region.
Professor David Green, vice chancellor and chief executive of the University of Worcester, said: “The building work to transform the former Berrows House building and print factory into a new Centre for Health and Medicine is progressing well.
"Once the construction work completes we will fit it out with the specialist equipment required for modern health and medical education. We are aiming to have the building in use from Easter 2023.
"Once open, the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building, named for the first woman to qualify as a physician and surgeon in the UK, will provide excellent, state-of-the-art facilities to educate health professionals across a range of courses, including Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Associate and Medicine.
"There is a desperate shortage of qualified health professionals throughout Britain.
"This new centre will enable the University to make a major difference for the good and to educate even more health professionals in the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and in the Black Country borough of Dudley and Halesowen.”
The front of the building is now covered in glittering panels which contrast with the rather drab appearance of the original structure.
The building was the home of the paper until 2020 when its operations were moved to London Road.
During the work, the former newspaper office has been partially demolished, with a new structure and metal framework being put in to give the historic building a new lease of life.
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