Calls to lift cap on number of medical students in UK

Calls to lift cap on number of medical students in UK after thousands of A-level pupils who missed the grades to become doctors due to the algorithm reapply with teacher-assessed marks

  • Universities inundated with calls from medical students with new correct grades
  • There is a cap set on medical  school places due to cost and NHS placements
  • Universities UK has written a letter to Mr Williamson to seek ‘urgent assurances’ 

Ministers are under pressure to lift the cap on the number of students studying medicine in the UK after thousands of pupils missed the grades to become doctors due to the algorithm and are now reapplying. 

Universities have been inundated with calls from students who now have the sufficient grades and are desperate to start their new course at their first choice in September.

Institutions are currently in a bind because the number of places at medical schools are capped by the government because of cost – the amount to train doctors exceeds the amount paid by undergraduates in fees – and restrictions on NHS work placements. 

A number of students who were planning to study medicine had their grades lowered by the standardised algorithm.

But the screeching u-turn by under-pressure Education Secretary Gavin Williamson means students now have significantly improved grades and can try and get into the school of their choice.   

Students from Codsall Community High School protest outside the constituency office of their local MP, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

Universities UK has written a letter to Mr Williamson to seek ‘urgent assurances’ that he is talking to the Department of Health about increasing the number of medical school places from the current number of 7,500, as reported by the BBC.

The letter also said: ‘The role of universities in training the medical workforce is essential for all regions and nations of the UK, as clearly shown by our members’ response to the Covid-19 pandemic.’ 

Prof Richard Harvey, the academic director of admissions at the University of East Anglia, told The Guardian it had 185 medical places. And are now oversubscribed by around 50 students. 

He said: ‘I have 1,500 emails in my inbox from angry people – mostly medics – all trying to work out what the hell they do now.’

‘It’s perfectly possible for ministers to convert an apology into something that’s meaningful, but that means opening the cheque book and fixing the problem. Especially as we were all clapping carers not so long ago. Weren’t we all meant to be supporting the NHS?’

Universities UK has written a letter to Mr Williamson (pictured) to seek 'urgent assurances' that he is talking to the Department of Health about increasing the number of medical school places from the current number of 7,500, as reported by the BBC

Universities UK has written a letter to Mr Williamson (pictured) to seek ‘urgent assurances’ that he is talking to the Department of Health about increasing the number of medical school places from the current number of 7,500, as reported by the BBC

The chair of the Royal College of GPs has also urged the Government to dramatically increase the number of undergraduate medical places to ensure doctors ‘represent the communities they serve’.

Dr Martin Marshall called on universities minister Michelle Donelan to urgently provide clarity on the ethnicity and socio-economic background of prospective medical students hit by the A-level fiasco.

In an open letter, he said reports poorer communities were more likely to have been adversely affected by the system that saw this year’s grades awarded by algorithm were ‘deeply worrying’.

Dr Marshall also warned despite Monday’s U-turn, many will have lost their places on medical courses after universities started handing out spots based on students’ original results.

‘It is deeply worrying to hear that areas which are under-doctored and under-served by medical schools could also be more likely to have students whose results were downgraded and who may not now be able to secure a place to study medicine,’ he said.

He added: ‘At the RCGP we are committed to ensuring that the medical profession is inclusive and representative; this includes the doctors of the future representing the communities they serve.’

Prof Marshall finished: ‘I’m sure that you will agree it will be essential for the future of the NHS that we have sufficient doctors to see our ever expanding and complex population of patients.’

The RCGP estimates the UK needs 20% more undergraduate medical places to serve the growing population, and wants caps on student numbers lifted as well as extra funding for universities to help meet demand.

It wants all students that meet the criteria to study medicine to be able to do so.

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