Lancaster and Liverpool Universities in Partnership for Medical Education

Lancaster University, in partnership with the University of Liverpool is planning to extend the provision of undergraduate medical education throughout Lancashire and Cumbria.

The new initiative will increase the number of doctors in the region through the development of a new medical school for the North-West.

Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), St Martin’s College and the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority will work together to create the business case for a successful bid to the Higher Education Funding Council For England (HEFCE) for an extra 50 medical undergraduates annually in the North-West.

Lancaster University is already involved in teaching Liverpool medical students. The number of students training as doctors each year in the North-West is expected to rise by 120 in 2008.

The initiative could see students carrying out their clinical training in hospitals throughout Lancashire, North and West Cumbria and Morecambe Bay areas. Evidence shows that doctors who receive their training and education locally are more likely to remain in the area when they qualify.

Professor Nick Abercrombie, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University said: “This is a very important development for the people of Lancashire and Cumbria and for Lancaster University. It enables the University to develop its expertise in research and teaching in health and medicine and to use that expertise to train doctors who are then likely to stay in the area. We are proud to play a major part in this initiative in collaboration with Liverpool University and NHS Trusts.”

“Ian Cumming, Chief Executive of Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust said:

The Trust has worked in close collaboration with the universities of Liverpool and Lancaster for many years. I am delighted that we have been able to take forward the proposal to expand further the number of medical students within the Bay as a result of this innovative proposal. If this bid is successful I am confident that the skills of each of the partner organisations will come together to produce an innovative and world class quality medical education programme.”