Ms Robison was welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Bernard King and Head of the School of Social and Health Sciences Professor Steve Olivier. The Institute forms part of SHS.

Ms Robison said, “This institute plays a key part in ensuring those entering the healthcare workforce, or those who are striving to provide, or are already delivering, first class healthcare to the people of Scotland, are sufficiently skilled, flexible and responsive enough to meet current and future demands for a high quality and continuously improving service.”

Robin Ion, division leader for the TIHS said, “The Tayside Institute for Health Studies strives to function as a centre of excellence in health care and to promote interdisciplinary ways of working.

“We also aim to facilitate lifelong learning and create opportunities for health professionals to undertake research that will enhance their professional effectiveness.

“These new facilities will benefit staff and students working in a wide range of areas, from nursing and mental health to psychology and counselling.”

As the then Dundee College of Technology, the university started offering degrees in nursing over 30 years ago.

Meanwhile, Ms Robison, along with other Dundee-based SNP MSPs, also visited the Tayside Audiology Service to learn about improvements to services for deaf children.

The Public Health Minister, Nigel Don and Joe FitzPatrick were invited along by staff after the SNP politicians came out in support of recent National Deaf Children’s Society campaigns and supported calls for better specialist deaf services.

The MSPs claim parents of deaf children in Dundee struggle to find the support needed and are appealing for the establishment of an integrated national framework and the introduction of a national standard in the delivery of services.

Today’s meeting at Kings Cross Hospital was led by Dr Ann MacKinnon, specialist in paediatric audiology.