Report 01/31

Increasing medical student numbers in England 2001

Executive summary (read on-line)

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Executive summary

Purpose

1. This report provides information on the further allocation of additional medical student numbers in England from 2001-02, and explains the decision-making process underpinning these allocations.

Key points

2. The Third Report by the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee (MWSAC) in December 1997 concluded that a substantial increase in medical school intakes was required to meet the future workforce needs of the NHS. In agreeing the MWSAC's recommendations, the Government charged the HEFCE and the Department of Health (DH) jointly to implement the introduction of additional medical student numbers for England (home and EC students only).

3. In the previous allocation exercise, the Joint Implementation Group (JIG) set up by the Government in 1999 allocated some 1,129 new medical places, in a three-stage process. This included establishing two new medical schools, at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and, jointly, at the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter (the Peninsula Medical School). The method and results of that exercise were reported in HEFCE 99/42.

4. Following the publication of the NHS Plan in July 2000, the Government stated that it was seeking a further 1,000 medical places. Arising from this JIG was asked to establish a new bidding round for 2000-01, to be run on similar lines to those conducted in 1999 and 2000. In this latest phase, JIG was jointly chaired by Professor Sir Brian Fender (Chief Executive of the HEFCE) and Professor Liam Donaldson (Chief Medical Officer).

5. JIG decided that the additional 1,000 places should be allocated through a competitive bidding process. In September 2000, it invited bids for additional medical places from universities, requesting submissions by 1 December 2000. Decisions on the allocation of places were taken according to published criteria which took into account regional priorities, innovation, quality, graduate entry, widening participation, and value for money (the objectives are attached at Annex B). It is expected that the great majority of the additional student intake will be in place by 2006.

Action required

6. This report is for information.