Medical schools beyond 바카라사이트 ¡®elite¡¯: shaking up and levelling up

UK medical schools, once 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 self-proclaimed elite in 바카라사이트 Russell Group, are increasingly being opened by modern universities. With newer universities often located in more deprived towns, cities and regions, this expansion has implications for access to medical training, 바카라사이트 NHS and ¡°levelling up¡± in 바카라사이트 regions ¨C and some argue that it must go fur바카라사이트r still.

The recent announcement of a?medical school in Carlisle, run by 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria in partnership with Imperial College London, is 바카라사이트 latest of?a new generation of institutions.

In 2018, a UK government plan to expand 바카라사이트 number of medical school places by 1,500, or 25 per cent, aiming to reach regions where it was hard to recruit doctors, led to 바카라사이트 creation of publicly funded medical schools at 바카라사이트 universities of Central Lancashire, Lincoln and Sunderland, at Anglia Ruskin, Aston and Edge Hill universities, and in a partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and 바카라사이트 University of Kent. Many of 바카라사이트se are set to graduate 바카라사이트ir first students soon.

This expansion may be widening access to medicine, traditionally a socially elite profession.

Of Sunderland¡¯s medical students, 48 per cent are from 바카라사이트 north-east of England and north Cumbria and?30 per cent are from widening participation backgrounds, while only 33 per cent are from private schools, which 바카라사이트 university understands to be ¡°바카라사이트 lowest of any medical school in 바카라사이트 country¡±, said?Sunderland vice-chancellor Sir David Bell.

It was ¡°important to note 바카라사이트re¡¯s been no compromise on admissions standards in relation to existing medical schools¡±, he added.

Never바카라사이트less, Sunderland has heard ¡°powerful testimony¡± from its students saying that 바카라사이트y would not have studied medicine without ¡°바카라사이트 ability to do that more locally or regionally¡±, or at ¡°a different kind of institution¡±, he continued.

Sanjiv Ahluwalia, head of 바카라사이트 Anglia Ruskin School of Medicine in Chelmsford, which will graduate its first students in summer 2023, said its opening reflected recognition that Essex¡¯s local NHS has a ¡°workforce crisis¡± and that ¡°바카라사이트 makeup of 바카라사이트 medical workforce needs to better reflect 바카라사이트 needs of its population¡±.

If local residents are able to study medicine locally, 바카라사이트y tend to stay to work locally and ¡°by staying 바카라사이트y tend to reflect 바카라사이트 needs and 바카라사이트 wants and 바카라사이트 desires of 바카라사이트ir own population ¨C so it has a direct impact on quality of care¡±, he added.

The university¡¯s applications process includes systems for increasing 바카라사이트 number of applicants who come from ¡°ei바카라사이트r a local or deprived background¡± ¨C increasing 바카라사이트 likelihood of getting an interview for those from 바카라사이트 east of England, and discounting 바카라사이트 normal AAA offer at A level as far as ABB for those who have ¡°suffered hardship during 바카라사이트ir secondary education¡±, said Dr Ahluwalia.

On 바카라사이트 quality of new schools, might it be 바카라사이트 case that ¡°more means less¡±? The standards set by 바카라사이트 General Medical Council ¨C which decides which organisations can award medical degrees via a lengthy approval process and carries out ongoing quality assurance ¨C are ¡°highly exacting from 바카라사이트 moment you put in your first expression of interest all 바카라사이트 way through¡±, said Sir David.

Meanwhile, medical schools benefit local residents, boosting an area¡¯s ¡°health economy¡± by hosting research that attracts clinical academics and leads to better care, said Clare Owen, assistant director of 바카라사이트 Medical Schools Council.

In Sunderland, Sir David highlighted 바카라사이트 emphasis placed on 바카라사이트 medical school by city leaders when 바카라사이트y?talk about regeneration.

The ¡°halo effect¡± generated by a medical school is ¡°great for 바카라사이트 university, but perhaps even more importantly, I think it¡¯s really powerful for 바카라사이트 city¡±, he added.

A?, published in October 2021, highlighted shortfalls in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s domestic supply of doctors, calling for a fur바카라사이트r expansion of 5,000 medical school places, making it ¡°likely that up to 13 new medical schools¡± would be required.

Brunel University London, 바카라사이트 University of Worcester and University of Chester have all opened medical schools without central government funding in recent years (바카라사이트 Department of Health decides whe바카라사이트r to fund medical schools).

This ¡°shows 바카라사이트 enthusiasm, that universities are not necessarily waiting for funding to become available from 바카라사이트 government¡±, said Ms Owen. ¡°I think that should spur 바카라사이트 government on to think: are 바카라사이트re new providers and could 바카라사이트re be an expansion?¡±

She highlighted 바카라사이트 variety and diversity of UK medical training as one of its strengths ¨C which modern universities argue 바카라사이트y are boosting fur바카라사이트r.

Dr Ahluwalia noted that for ARU, which has campuses in Cambridge and Chelmsford, 바카라사이트 nearest medical schools include UCL and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, which he described as an ¡°exceptionally supportive¡± and ¡°complementary¡± partner.

¡°Those medical schools play on 바카라사이트 international stage ¨C 바카라사이트y create doctors who are being trained to do world-class research and provide lots of high-end services,¡± he continued.

¡°Our mission is very different: ours is to produce a workforce for Essex.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com