After careful consideration, the 国产视频 has decided to reschedule the opening of its Three Counties Medical School to September 2023.
After discussion with General Medical Council colleagues in late June, the University believes that this will be in the best interests of the students and the long term interest of the NHS and wider region.
The University has been developing the Medical School against the backdrop of the global Covid-19 pandemic, along with shifting policies from the Government.
All students who were holding an offer from the University are being offered a deferment to next year, on the same terms and conditions.
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, said: “We are deeply committed to creating a first-class medical school to serve the people of the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and beyond for many, many years to come.
“Postponing will enable us to secure the funded places or alternative financial support which will be needed to ensure GMC concerns about long-term recruitment sustainability are met. At present, thanks to local charitable and NHS financial support we have funding for an initial pioneer cohort of twenty UK students.
"Postponing will also enable us to be very well advanced in the development of curriculum materials and assessments across the entire programme. Staff colleagues who have recently joined the University will have the time to become fully embedded in the School. The new building for Health and Medicine will also be fully open.”
The University is grateful for the continued support of its partners in the NHS, including NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire and NHS Gloucestershire, along with the Kildare Trust, who have each provided funding for the first cohort of UK Medical students at Worcester.
Simon Trickett, Chief Executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “Local health partners fully understand and support the reasons for the new timetable. The Medical School remains a hugely important development for the health and care systems across the three counties and we look forward to working with the teams and supporting a successful opening in September 2023.”
The University has been lobbying hard, with the support of Worcester MP Robin Walker, for the Government to allocate new funded medical student places to the Medical School. Postponing the opening of the Three Counties Medical School will allow the University to redouble its campaign to persuade HM Government to release funded places so that the School can make its full contribution to remedying the acute shortage of doctors in the region.
Building work to transform the former Worcester News building and print factory into the new Centre for Health and Medical Education is well underway. The completion of construction is due at the end of the year, with specialist ‘fit out’ complete by early 2023. The facility will include a specialised anatomy skills room using high fidelity models for visualisation of anatomy, pathology and physiology; a simulated GP’s surgery with a suite of consultation rooms; technology for viewing and feedback space; and easily reconfigurable rooms for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. There will also be a café.