Launch of the North Wales Medical School: A new era for medical education and healthcare in North Wales
Today (3 October, 2024) marks the official launch of the North Wales Medical School at Bangor University, a significant milestone in addressing the healthcare needs of North Wales. Established to play a crucial role in training future doctors, the School will serve both NHS Wales and the people of the region.
The first direct intake of medical students have started at Bangor University this semester – this includes a mix of school leavers and graduate entrants. They will be the first to have all their medical training delivered in North Wales.
This year the school will take 80 students, but numbers will increase steadily to reach 140 a year from 2029-30 onwards.
Planning for the new medical school began in 2020, when Bangor University, Cardiff University, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Welsh Government agreed to work in partnership to set up the School.
The theme of the launch, ‘A New Era for Medical Education in North Wales,’ highlights the transformational impact the School will have. Over the next decade, the medical School is expected to admit and train hundreds of students through both a 5-year undergraduate programme and a 4-year Graduate Entry route. By increasing training opportunities, the School will help address local healthcare challenges and encourage more qualified doctors to stay and work within NHS Wales.
A unique aspect of the programme is that students complete their entire third year embedded in a North Wales community, gaining invaluable experience in General Practice and preparing them for future careers. This strong foundation of clinical experience and the partnership with Cardiff University has laid the groundwork for the independent North Wales Medical School.
First Minister for Wales, Eluned Morgan said, “Recruiting skilled doctors is a major challenge across the UK and Europe. The medical school will be a game-changer for doctor recruitment in Wales, enabling more medical students to train in the region, which is good for our NHS, especially in North Wales.
“The North Wales Medical school marks the delivery of a key Programme for Government commitment for North Wales and is the culmination of five years’ hard work by the health board and the universities. The school will soon be providing the NHS with doctors with world-class, modern training to deliver excellent and compassionate care in our NHS for the future.”
Professor Edmund Burke, Vice-Chancellor, emphasised the importance of the new School, "As we celebrate 140 years of Bangor University, the launch of the North Wales Medical School marks a key milestone for the University and the region. It reflects our commitment to outstanding education, cutting-edge research, and addressing local healthcare needs. Together with our partners, we are shaping a healthier future by training the next generation of doctors within our communities."
Dyfed Edwards, chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said, “The new medical school will be key to helping address the challenges of training and retaining doctors, while strengthening bilingual healthcare delivery across the region. It is widely recognised that doctors tend to practice close to where they train, so the aim is to encourage students to develop lifelong careers within North Wales, benefiting the local population and its communities.
“There will also be opportunities for developments in relation to research and innovation through our partnership working. This will have a positive impact on recruitment and retention as well as improving patient outcomes. We look forward to continuing to work with Bangor University to deliver a new cohort of qualified doctors that help support the delivery of healthcare in the future.”
The North Wales Medical School builds on the success of the C21 North Wales Medicine Programme, which has been delivered in partnership with Cardiff University. The new programme at Bangor will remain closely aligned with Cardiff University’s C21 medical curriculum, following strong support from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine. The launch of the North Wales Medical School signals a brighter future for healthcare in the region. This new medical School represents not only an investment in education but also a Bangor University’s commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of future generations.
