Europe's most advanced healthcare education facility has been officially opened in Dublin city.

Based at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 26 York Street aims to promote innovation in learning, delivering ‘world class medical and healthcare education'.

According to the Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, this €80 million 10-floor facility ‘showcases the latest in modern urban campus design'.

"The RCSI has been a constant presence in St Stephens Green for 234 years now and this building demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the RCSI to deliver not only world class medical and healthcare education, but also the innovative social environment which promotes the importance of a balanced approach to student life and their future professional careers," he commented.

The official opening was attended by Michael Bloomberg, the World Health Organization's ambassador for non-communicable diseases. This three-time Mayor of New York is also the founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Speaking ahead of the event, he said that reducing preventable deaths is the ‘most urgent healthcare challenge of our time'.

"It requires the kind of changes to medical education that this new healthcare education facility will help usher in. By equipping healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to take on this challenge, 26 York Street will help raise the bar for teaching institutions around the world, which can save millions of lives," he insisted.

The facility is the largest and most modern facility of its kind in Europe, providing hands-on practical, professional healthcare training in multiple learning and study environments.

The centrepiece of the building is the 12,000sq ft Simulation Centre, which is laid out over three full floors. Here, students and healthcare professionals have access to a world class surgical and training suite with clinical skills laboratories, a mock operating theatre and clinical training wards.

"We are transforming both what we teach our future healthcare professionals and how we teach them. Our distinctive education will focus on simulation, allowing students to achieve the highest clinical skill standards before they work directly with patients. It will also focus on character development, building resilience and leadership," added RCSI chief executive, Prof Cathal Kelly.