Published on 12 June 2019
Sunderland’s first School of Medicine has been given the official ‘green light’ after a team from the General Medical Council reviewed the University’s preparations.
The visit from the GMC – the public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK – comes as final plans are put in place ahead of September’s official opening.
Last year, Sunderland was one of only five new medical schools to be announced in the country - established to address the regional imbalance of medical education places across England and to widen access to ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves.
Following the full day GMC Stage 7 visit on Friday, May 31, the School is ready to welcome its first medical students in September.
Professor Scott Wilkes, Head of School of Medicine and Professor of General Practice and Primary Care at the University, said: “We are now in a multi-year GMC process to quality assure the development of our new medical school.
“It’s testament to the hard work put in by the entire medical school team that we received the following comments on areas that areas that are working well.”
The GMC commented on areas working well:
• Impressed with the range of financial incentives to support our medical students
• Impressed with the development of the Student Selected Components (SSCs) with a strong emphasis on social responsibility
• Pleased to see a strong emphasis on the benefits of Interprofessional Learning (IPL)
• Pleased to see that the Patient Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) elements are truly embedded in the programme
Professor Wilkes added: “I feel honoured to lead such a strong and capable team who are dedicated to our medical school including our staff from hospital trusts, GP practices and university services.
“We are not complacent and continue to focus upon the areas for development to ensure that we are among the best at delivering medical education and living up to our mission ‘to graduate socially responsible doctors who meet the needs of society and improve lives’.
The GMC visit also highlighted that the University was well on track for the first cohort of medical students this September, as well as having made considerable progress since the GMC Stage 5 visit.
About the School of Medicine
Sunderland is one of only five new medical schools, established to address the regional imbalance of medical education places across England and to widen access to ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves. With a track-record of excellence in health education spanning almost 100 years, the University is now well-placed to contribute medical graduates to address the shortage of doctors in the North East. Our graduates will follow careers in many specialties with a significant proportion focusing on GP and Psychiatry.