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New era for medical education
29/06/2005
A radical overhaul of medical training in Scotland was announced today.
The proposals will see an additional 100 doctors graduating in Scotland and ensure the brightest potential doctors from all backgrounds have a chance to study medicine.
Outlining the Executive's response to Sir Kenneth Calman's Review of Basic Medical Education in Scotland, Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"We need to recruit more doctors for the NHS in Scotland as its needs and the pressures to improve health care change.
"We also need to make sure that we are able attract the very best people from all backgrounds to study medicine. Without compromising standards, this will involve removing artificial barriers such as having to sit five highers in one sitting which excludes many of our young people before the selection process even starts.
"Sir Kenneth's report provides an excellent blueprint for delivering these changes. I am pleased to accept all his recommendations.
"The outward looking ethos which has helped make Scotland's medical schools world class will be strengthened."
The package of measures includes:
- an additional 100 medical graduates - by ensuring all students who start their medical degrees at St Andrews can complete their studies in Scotland and no longer need to move to Manchester University for their clinical training
- widening access through working with schools in disadvantaged areas, developing foundation courses and closer links with further education colleges. Sir Kenneth urged medical schools to give more attention to the 'realities of secondary education in Scotland' and the fact that many state schools could not ensure enough pupils meet the entry requirement of securing five Highers in one sitting
- support for a new four year course or courses for graduate entrants to undergo medical training
- a new university Board of Medical Education for Scotland to co-ordinate work of all five medical schools on all aspects of training and curriculum, to review admission arrangements for broadening access and to ensure that Scots applicants are not disadvantaged
St Andrews has sent medical students to Manchester for clinical training for the last thirty years. In future they will complete clinical training at the other four Scottish medical schools.
This will be phased in from August next year, under arrangements to be agreed with the universities involved, the students, the new Board of Medical Education and the Higher Education Funding Councils in Scotland and England.
In his report last year, Sir Kenneth highlighted the need for Scottish medical schools to increase the proportion of Scottish domiciled students.
Medical school places are funded by the Executive and there is a need to for the medical schools to take into account the needs of the NHS in Scotland. Scottish-domiciled medical students are more than twice as likely to pursue their careers in Scotland. However, the proportion of Scottish domiciled entrants to medical school has been falling and currently stands at just over half (54 per cent).
Mr Kerr said:
"I recently met with representatives of the Scottish medical schools and I am pleased with the progress they have made to widen access.
"There is a joint recognition, however, that more can and should be done to ensure that we are able to recruit the very best potential doctors, irrespective of background.
"This builds on the Scottish tradition of giving the chance of study to all those who have the ability to shine.
"We now have the opportunity through the work of the Kerr group to build a new health service ready to meet the changing needs of the people of Scotland. We will deliver on that."
The Executive accepts Sir Kenneth's recommendation that 100 additional places should be provided in Scotland and that the numbers entering medicine should be revisited in two or three years time. However, it will implement this by retaining 100 St Andrews students rather than, as Sir Kenneth suggested, retaining 50 St Andrews students and introducing 50 new places elsewhere in Scotland.
Sir Kenneth said:
"I am pleased that the Executive has accepted the recommendations made in my Report. I appreciate the reasons for choosing to deliver the increase of 100 medical graduates through St Andrews. I am pleased that they will be available to all medical schools in Scotland. This will achieve the same result as my proposal and I am very happy with that.
"Scottish medical schools have an unrivalled international reputation for excellence. This package offers a golden opportunity to build on that record and ensure that Scotland can produce the best doctors drawing on the brightest talents from all backgrounds and sections of society. I am particularly pleased that my recommendations for a Scottish Centre for Basic Medical Education and for a Board for Medical Education in Scotland have been agreed."
The cost of retaining all 100 St Andrews graduates in Scotland's clinical medical schools at current rates would be £4,093,500 per annum for the additional student places and up to £4,203,000 for Additional Cost of Teaching (ACT) funding. Each year there are around 800 new graduates from Scottish medical schools.
Sir Kenneth Calman, 64, is a former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland and England has been Vice-Chancellor of Durham University since 1998. He presented his Review of Basic Medical Education in Scotland in June last year.