Doctors of the Future Begin Their Studies at New Generation Medical School

Doctors of the future have started their studies in one of England’s new generation of medical schools, marking the start of a new era for the NHS workforce.

The first intake of undergraduate medical students enrolled this week at Lincoln Medical School – a partnership between the University of Lincoln and The University of Nottingham to deliver first class medical education in Lincolnshire.

Until now Lincolnshire was the largest English county without a medical school of its own. Once at full capacity, Lincoln Medical School will provide training to around 400 medical students at any one time. It follows a successful application to Health Education England to deliver some of the extra 1,500 undergraduate medical education places being created across England, supported by Lincolnshire’s healthcare community.

Students will study Nottingham’s world-class BMBS Medicine degree at the University of Lincoln with a first cohort of 80 students in 2019/20. A further 17 students will study at Lincoln on Nottingham’s innovative BMBS Medicine with Foundation Year, designed to widen participation in medical education. Initially they will be based in existing science and health education facilities on Lincoln’s main Brayford Pool Campus, where more than £21 million is being invested to create a bespoke new medical school building.

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said: “The start of teaching for our first undergraduate medical students is a tremendous moment for everyone with a passion for supporting the healthcare of people across our region. We warmly welcome all our new students to our academic community and look forward to exciting years ahead.

“By coupling The University of Nottingham’s world-class medical curriculum with Lincoln’s renowned reputation for exceptional student experience and employer engagement, we anticipate great things from our newest academic department. This is and will continue to be a true partnership involving organisations from across our communities to deliver the skills our NHS needs for the future.”

Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, said: “I wish each of our students every success as they commence this pioneering study programme delivered by leading providers of education in the healthcare sector. We have been training doctors at Nottingham for almost 50 years and as a result standards of healthcare in the East Midlands have risen dramatically in that time. Our popular and pioneering medical degree is delivered by teachers who are also hands-on clinicians and often world leading clinical researchers in their field.”  

Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I’m pleased to see the first cohort of local medical students arriving. The Lincoln Medical School is an exciting development that will provide a massive boost for the Lincolnshire NHS workforce for the future. These students will train in our hospitals and we hope will go forward to work in our local NHS and care for the people of Lincolnshire.”

Brendan Hayes, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “We already have a strong partnership with the University of Lincoln and the development of a medical school will be an important boost to the county and its residents.  Training our own doctors in Lincolnshire where they are able to see what the county has to offer will undoubtedly increase the likelihood of newly trained doctors staying in the region once they have qualified.”