Government announces first medical school for Kent

21st March 2018

The Government’s announcement that Kent is to get its first medical school has been welcomed by Kent Medical Campus.

The new Kent & Medway Medical School will be jointly led by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University and will open the doors to its first cohort of students in September this year.

Gary Watson of JLL, the property advisers for Kent Medical Campus, said: “This important investment in these much-needed skills to deliver the doctors and surgeons of the future will also enhance the attractiveness of the county to companies looking to develop research links with our universities and other life science and health-related businesses.

“Kent Medical Campus fully supported the joint bid and has been engaged with both academic institutions for some time. The organisations recognise the strategy being pursued by the Campus and also the many benefits which a fully occupied 30 acre campus will provide in terms of economic, academic, employment and health related benefits for generations to come.  We will do everything we can to make the Government’s investment in the county a success.”

The Kent & Medway Medical School is one of five new schools announced by Health and Social Care Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, as part of a drive to boost doctor numbers and ensure there are enough staff in parts of the country which are struggling to recruit.

New medical schools will also be established in Sunderland, Lancashire, Lincoln and Chelmsford. The aim is that the new schools will deliver a large proportion of the 1,500 new training places which the Secretary of State pledged would make the UK “self-sufficient” in doctors by 2025.