Future doctors start courses at Lincoln Medical School

Doctors of the future have started their studies as the first intake of undergraduate medical students enrolled at Lincoln Medical School this week.

Lincoln Medical School is a partnership between the universities of Lincoln and Nottingham. Students will study Nottingham’s 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 BMBS Medicine with Foundation Year.

Initially the students 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.

As previously reported, work started on the new five-story medical school at the University of Lincoln this summer. Construction workers started to level out the field ready for the main body of work, which is due to start later this year around October 2019.

They are levelling off the field. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Once at full capacity Lincoln Medical School will provide training to around 400 medical students at any one time.

The new medical school will be the first of its kind in Lincolnshire when it opens in 2021 and the University of Lincoln previously said it hopes it will mean students will stay on as doctors in the county.

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.”

Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, added: “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.”

Government funding will help provide five-year medical degrees to 80 students each year. Training will include placements within local hospitals and will have a particular focus on primary care such as GP care and mental health work.

Initially run as a partnership with the University of Nottingham, the school will eventually become the sole responsibility of the University of Lincoln.