Latest news with #UniversityOfSunderland
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sunderland surgeon who started as hospital porter retires
A surgeon who started his NHS career as a hospital porter has retired after more than 40 Banerjee first signed up to help patients in 1982 when he started work at Sunderland Royal has now stepped down from his role as a consultant vascular surgeon with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation tribute, the organisation said Mr Banerjee, who also completed his training at hospital in Newcastle before returning to Sunderland in 2004, had cared for thousands of patients. As well as celebrating his retirement, Mr Banerjee has also been presented with an honorary doctorate of medicine by the University of recognises his services to the city, the NHS and the military having joined the Army Reserves while he was a medical was later deployed to Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan and was appointed as one of the Queen's honorary surgeons in remains an honorary clinical senior lecturer in vascular surgery at Newcastle University. Easington-born Mr Banerjee thanked the health trust for his surgery career and also for facilitating his military said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here at the trust, serving the people of Sunderland to the best of my ability in the NHS and the Army."I leave behind a fantastic team everywhere in this hospital, all of whom have supported me in some way over the years."The trust's executive medical director, Dr Shaz Wahid, said Mr Banerjee had "helped care for thousands of patients" and "used his expertise to not only treat those we look after, but share his knowledge with his colleagues"."His achievements through the Army are also a testament to his dedication to helping others and he is to be congratulated for the distinctions he has earned," Dr Wahid said. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
National Glass Centre repair costs are ludicrous, say critics
Campaigners objecting to the closure of the National Glass Centre (NGC) have claimed repair cost estimates for the building are "ludicrous".The University of Sunderland, which plans to close the centre next year, said fixing the site would cost between £14m and £ Nigel Taylor, a former civil engineer and member of Save the National Glass Centre, said the costs published by the university are "very high" and may have deterred "potential benefactors" from providing university said the repair costs were based on "independent advice" and none of the options put forward was affordable given its income is derived from student tuition. The NGC opened in 1998 but the building and land has been owned by the University of Sunderland since 2010.A feasibility study carried out to determine ways to repair the roof suggested two main suggested replacing the existing glass roof with one combining glazing and solid material at an estimated cost of £14mThe other also involved replacement along with additional work on the roof envelope, including its side elevations. The estimated cost for this project was £45m. Mr Taylor said the difference between the lower and higher costs was an "unbelievable spread" and said the true costs should be much lower."I have looked at the £14m estimate in detail and even this does not stand up to scrutiny. The construction costs within that are only £6.5m," he said."The rest is a mix of risk, fees, contingencies and inflation, all of which appear very high to suit the university's narrative."The £14m estimate includes a 10% design and construction risk allowance, a 10% employer risk allowance and a 15% allowance for other project costs, such as IT and audio visual also includes a 16.34% allowance for inflation, which comes to an extra £ report notes an alternative to replacing the roof could be over-cladding it with a "simple secondary roof". While this would prevent light coming through the existing glass roof, it would reduce costs by between £2.5m and £4.5m. 'No support offered' A spokesman for the university said it had invested more than £15m in the NGC over the last decade and the building survey it commissioned in 2022 found a "multimillion-pound investment would be required to address the remedial issues"."The report included risk, VAT, and other project allowances which would be as expected for a project of this scale."The total cost of all the recommended remedial work was, based on independent advice, a minimum £14m and more likely nearer £45m. "The report suggested there may be alternative replacement roofing options which could potentially reduce the total cost by £2.5m - £4.5m."However, none of the options outlined in the building survey report were affordable given that the bulk of the university's income comes from student tuition fees and is spent on its core priority activities of learning, teaching, research, innovation and knowledge exchange."Since the planned closure of the building was announced in 2023, no individual or organisation has come forward to offer any financial support towards refurbishing the building. "The NGC will close on 31 July 2026." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sunderland University pressed on National Glass Centre cost claims
A council is to press a university for more details about its decision to close the National Glass University of Sunderland said it would close the centre next year because damage to the building would cost between £14m and £45m to Sunderland City Council has now said it has concerns about the accuracy of the estimated repair local authority is expected to write to the university and demand more information about the National Glass Centre's repair costs and finances. A motion put forward by councillor Michael Hartnack ahead of a council meeting later said: "Preserving Sunderland's glassmaking heritage is vital to the city's cultural offer as well as the council's economic growth ambitions."The university has taken this decision due to what it claims are unaffordable repair costs and sustained operating losses. The council expresses concern regarding the accuracy of the cost estimates so far presented." The council is set to ask the university how much of a loss the Glass Centre was operating at and whether the losses reflected changes made to the centre's facade in also want to know how the university accounts for the Glass Centre's income and expenditure and will request all documents relating to the university's ownership of the site. Earlier this year, the government announced £5m in funding was being provided to build Glassworks Sunderland, a new glass-making hub designed to replace the National Glass Sunderland will be based in the former Peter Smith antiques warehouse in Sunniside and will be run by arts organisation Sunderland the motion has criticised Glassworks Sunderland and said the new scheme "fails to address the loss of expertise" caused by the closure of the national added the plan "ignores the economic implications for the surrounding area, and is itself only partially costed".The council has also requested the publication of a report detailing the ownership and costs of operating the proposed centre. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sunderland Uni launches short cancer care course for nurses
Region's only short cancer care course launches 20 minutes ago Share Save Share Save University of Sunderland Rachel Boyd, left, from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, helped develop the course A region's only short-term, face-to-face cancer care course will launch in September. The University of Sunderland's Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) course is designed for nursing staff and has been developed with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. There have been five applications already, with up to 20 places available in the first cohort. The eight-week programme will begin in September. The university said it was the only short-term, face-to-face SACT course in the North East. Students will be taught about drug-based cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. These treatments are designed to target and kill cancer cells throughout the body, rather than just one specific location. Programme leader Karen Humphreys, said the new course was "crucial" in helping develop and expand the skills of nurses who were already providing systemic anti-cancer treatment to patients. Rachel Boyd, SACT clinical educator at the trust, who helped develop the programme, said it would boost the care patients received. "This will enhance patient safety as well as the nursing care patients receive throughout their cancer journey, a time when they will face complex treatments and regimes," Ms Boyd said. "It also means there will be further career opportunities within the cancer workforce, which is a growing part of our organisation." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Related stories New nursing course opens up career to all ages
