A MAJOR new medical training school in Worcester will help tackle "chronic" staff shortages in the NHS.

That was the verdict of Professor Sandra Nicholson, who is heading up the new medical school being built at the former Worcester News building in Hylton Road.

Construction work is ongoing as the former Berrows House is transformed into a brand new training centre for nurses and doctors.

It is hoped that, when the facility is up and running, staff will go straight into the region's NHS.

Professor Nicholson said excitement is building ahead of the opening, which is scheduled for 2023.

She said: "It is exciting. I walk past it every day and see how the work is progressing.

"What is really special about Worcester is that it is a chance for health care professionals to work together and Berrows House is going to be at the centre of that.

"The University has a fantastic record for health care and training doctors is the final piece of the puzzle."

The idea for the new training centre is to provide health staff for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, with the Three Counties suffering from a lack of staff.

Initially, there will be a mix of overseas and local students, with plans to increase this in future.

Berrows House was home to the Worcester News form 1965 until 2020 when it was bought by the University.

Plans for the renovation, drawn up by Midlands-based Glancy Nicholls Architects, include a state-of-the art anatomy laboratory, a suite of GP simulation rooms, and a range of general seminar and teaching rooms.

There will also be offices, break-out spaces for group study and a café.

Professor Nicholson said one of the advantages of a move away from traditional science labs and lecture theatres is that it will allow more collaborative learning between students and teaching staff.

She added: "Part of the programme is about getting them discussing ideas rather than spoon-feeding them, so the social space will help them compare ideas with staff and other students."

While training in Worcester, students will carry out on the job learning in the region's health service, with the aim of making Worcester a centre of medical training.