Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Universities’ joint bid could see city get medical school
A long called-for medical school in Canterbury is closer to being realised after the city’s two universities launched a bid to fund the facility.
The University of Kent (UKC) and Christ Church have joined forces to fight for a share of government money to provide a place for students to study medicine.
It is hoped such a school would prove pivotal in attracting staff to work in east Kent, which has a hospitals trust struggling to recruit doctors and nurses.
Health experts at both universities say there is a “pressing need” for such a facility.
But they are up against a deadline to secure the funding because a bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for England and Health Education England must be in by November 23.
Dean of Kent Health at UKC, Dr Peter Nicholls, said: “Evidence from other recently established institutions clearly shows the positive impact that a new medical school can have on the ability to attract and retain staff.
“There is a pressing need for this in our region in a number of vital areas such as general practice, mental health, and in some hospital-based specialisms.”
A new medical school, he said, would offer a traditional fiveyear undergraduate entry programme, like the model that is currently used by the joint bid’s partner school – the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
But no figure has yet been revealed on what it would cost or how much the universities are bidding for.
Dr Nicholls says that if successful, further teaching facilities would need developing and qualified staff hired to ensure the admissions and assessment processes are rigorous and fair.
The bid by the universities has excited hospital campaign group Concern for Health in East Kent (Chek), which believes the proposal increases the chances of a new hospital being built in the city.
Developer Quinn Estates has offered to build the shell of a hospital on the Kent and Canterbury (K&C) site and discussions are ongoing with the east Kent hospitals trust.
Chek chairman Ken Rogers said: “It’s brilliant news because if the bid is successful it could cement the future of the K&C.
“The prospect of a new medical school and hospital next to each other is very exciting and we will certainly be pressing the case when a delegation from Chek meets the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, in the near future.
“We know that talks about the new hospital are ongoing and we’ve been trying to help that process from the outside. We’re just keeping our fingers crossed because it is desperately needed for patients across east Kent.”
Chek is holding another public meeting over the east Kent hospitals crisis at the Northgate Community Centre at 10am on Saturday. They hope to grill hospital chiefs about the “unacceptable” A&E waiting times and lack of emergency provision in Canterbury.
The area’s MPS have also been invited to attend.
Labour MP Rosie Duffield has already offered her apologies because she has parliamentary business in London that day but Faversham MP Helen Whately is expected to attend.