Universities bid for new medical school for Yorkshire and Humber region
Posted on 10 October 2000
The two Universities announced today (Tuesday 10 October) that they are bidding to establish the new School as part of the planned expansion of medical school facilities which followed the production of the NHS Plan in the Summer.
The Plan identified a need for large increases in the number of health professionals, including doctors.
Universities across the country were formally invited to bid for additional medical school places in September. Following consultation with NHS partners across the region both Universities said they would be prepared to provide undergraduate and postgraduate entry to medical training.
The bidding process requires submission of an expression of interest by 6 October and a first stage bid by December 1, 2000. The final outcome is expected in late Spring 2001 and if the bid is successful, the first medical students could arrive in 2003.
The joint Medical School is likely to have an annual intake of about 120 students, most of whom would be undergraduates following a five year programme, but with some postgraduates in medical science disciplines following an accelerated four year course.
Both Universities have strong reputations for their work in health and medical science, including nurse education. Hull has a well-established postgraduate School of Medicine which already has 12 professors and more than 80 staff, making it the largest postgraduate school in England.
York has one of the largest group of health services researchers in the world and contributes to national policy on NHS research and development, evidence-based medicine, clinical governance and clinical outcomes. It also has a strong reputation in science, with particular specialisms in cancer research, neurosciences and tissue repair.
Representatives from Health Authorities and NHS Trusts in York, Hull, North Yorkshire, the East Riding and South Humber will be closely involved in the bid. Establishing the new Medical School is expected to lead to substantial clinical benefits for the Humber region and North Yorkshire. The area has the biggest population centre in England not currently served by a medical school.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, Dr David Drewry, said: 'Establishing a Medical School is one of the University of Hull's long-standing ambitions and is a fundamental part of our development strategy. We are very pleased to have this new opportunity to pursue it in partnership with York.
'We believe that Hull's strengths in clinical medicine and hospital and community facilities complement York's strengths in bioscience and health services research, and that together we can make a powerful case for a Medical School in our region. There is a strong will to succeed in both universities.'
Professor Ron Cooke, Vice-Chancellor of the University of York said: 'York has established in recent years an extremely strong research and teaching base in health care and related sciences. It is now an opportune moment to explore the possibility of creating a Medical School: a development which would benefit the region and reflect the strengths of the two universities.
'In many ways York's expertise is complementary to that of Hull, and together we hope to create a world class Medical School.'