Kingston University has opened a £420,000 Pharmacy Practice Laboratory to train its students before they commence work in the health service.

The purpose-built facility is based at the university's Penrhyn Rd campus, in South West London. It boasts 40 dispensing stations, a pharmacy counter and consulting area. There are also computers connected to the Nexphase system used in many local pharmacies.

Professor Chris Cairns, from Kingston's School of Pharmacy and Chemistry said: "The new pharmacy lab allows students to experience what it is like in a real pharmacy. We use role-play so they can practice scenarios which they will go on to face in the workplace."

The facility looks like a normal pharmacy with people in white coats checking prescriptions and dispensing medicines. But the bottles in the controlled drugs cabinet contain coloured water and patients asking for medical advice are reading their symptoms from laminated sheets.

"Graduates need to be able to talk to patients confidently and effectively to extract all the information they need to make an assessment of the illness and to help to reassure the patient," Professor Cairns continued.

Student Jamie Wilkinson, agreed: "Working in the new pharmacy has really prepared me for my work placement. The role-plays help us to check our clinical knowledge and use our communication skills. It’s almost like we are out there working with patients."

The new facilities are being used by first, second, third and fourth year students studying an MPharm masters degree. In 2010 they will also serve students on the newly accredited foundation degree in pharmaceutical and chemical sciences.