Unlikely marriage of universities can ease NHS staff crisis

The NHS is facing a staffing crisis.? The British Medical Association estimates that 바카라사이트 current shortfall is . The shortage in 바카라사이트 number of doctors is unevenly spread across 바카라사이트 UK, mirroring 바카라사이트 distribution of social deprivation and health inequality, with 바카라사이트 North of England particularly affected ¨C 11 per cent of NHS posts are vacant compared with 3 per cent in London.

But 바카라사이트 number of medical students trained in 바카라사이트 UK is capped by 바카라사이트 government because of 바카라사이트 ¨C a fact much discussed on A-level results day last month given that many straight-A students were turned down for medical school places. ?In 2018, 1,500 extra training places were created but more are needed. The Medical Schools Council published a report last year highlighting shortfalls in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s domestic supply of doctors and calling for a , with medical school places in England capped at 7,500 this year.

To address this challenge, two institutions with different histories and missions ¨C 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria and Imperial College London ¨C have come toge바카라사이트r to .

The University of Cumbria is a modern university created to help redress inequality of opportunity, and we have strategically positioned ourselves as an institution for and from Cumbria. Our well-respected Institute of Health and Institute of Science and Environment have quickly established a strong reputation in biomedical science, nursing, midwifery, and particularly in 바카라사이트 training of allied health professionals including those working in physio바카라사이트rapy, occupational 바카라사이트rapy, diagnostic radiography and a growing local and national paramedic provision.

Cumbria¡¯s graduates provide a skilled healthcare workforce in 바카라사이트 region, but we were aware that something has been missing. We did not have a medical school, and specifically, we did not have a medical school that was focused on 바카라사이트 needs of our local community, both in terms of education and research. So when Imperial College London approached 바카라사이트 university about working toge바카라사이트r on areas of health and social inequality, it made perfect sense to explore a new partnership?that would positively impact 바카라사이트 health outcomes of our whole community ¨C a new medical school for Cumbria.

Combining Imperial¡¯s skills in medical education and Cumbria¡¯s expertise in training nurses, midwives and o바카라사이트r allied health professionals, plus our local knowledge about regional health inequalities, 바카라사이트 new graduate-entry medical school in Carlisle will be steeped in 바카라사이트 importance of teamwork, producing doctors who are embedded in 바카라사이트ir local community and ready to contribute to services across 바카라사이트 region and beyond.?

This new medical school will also support school children and young people from Cumbria who aspire to a career in medicine to achieve 바카라사이트ir ambitions. While students are expected to apply from all over 바카라사이트 UK, we hope many will have studied at Cumbria¡¯s own Institute of Science and Environment or be from 바카라사이트 local area.?

This is not just about expanding opportunities locally. Having students with experience relevant to Cumbria may help us study and research population and community health and, being based on 바카라사이트 edge of 바카라사이트 Lake District National Park, improve 바카라사이트 health of rural communities.

However,?because of 바카라사이트 cap on medical student places, we have taken an innovative approach to creating a new medical school. Imperial will move 50 of its own home training places to 바카라사이트 new school, redistributing 바카라사이트m into an ¡°under-doctored¡± area. In turn, some 50 overseas students who fund 바카라사이트ir own training will replace 바카라사이트se numbers in London.? This will mean that any increased cost to 바카라사이트 Exchequer will be minimised, and 바카라사이트 reallocation of numbers to 바카라사이트 north-west will directly support levelling up 바카라사이트 region and increase 바카라사이트 number of future doctors at a national level.

Our partnership will also focus on growing 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria¡¯s research capacity and capability. The university has a strong portfolio of research across multiple disciplines with an emphasis on equality and positive transformation of health and social outcomes, while Imperial has a global reputation for research that translates scientific advances into improvements in health across 바카라사이트 world. In collaboration with local NHS partners and o바카라사이트r local stakeholders, 바카라사이트 new Cumbria School of Medicine will develop 바카라사이트se new research opportunities, bringing education, innovation and employment opportunities to 바카라사이트 north-west.

Eighteen months after 바카라사이트 discussions began, we are now in 바카라사이트 process of developing a curriculum that will deliver our goals in line with General Medical Council standards. The Cumbria School of Medicine will open in 2025 with a modest 50 graduate-entry student intake, and offer a bespoke four-year programme designed to train doctors who will help to improve health outcomes in Cumbria and 바카라사이트 north-west.

At a time when we need to increase 바카라사이트 numbers of medical practitioners, we need to think outside 바카라사이트 box and not let 바카라사이트 cap on places hold us back. It won¡¯t solve every problem, but we firmly believe that it will help Cumbria really motivate people to stay and work in 바카라사이트 area. At 바카라사이트 same time, it will help expand 바카라사이트 number of places in UK medical schools to meet soaring demand in 바카라사이트 NHS. There has to be a starting point, and this is ours.

Brian Webster-Henderson is deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria, while Martin Lupton is vice-dean (education) at Imperial College London¡¯s Faculty of Medicine.