New era in medical education launched at West Suffolk Hospital

September 10, 2001

Professor Sir Alec Broers, Vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, marked the start of a new era in medical education in Cambridge on Tuesday 25th September when he came to the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

He unveiled a slate to launch the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine, an innovative course which is a partnership between the University and the West Suffolk Hospital as part of the Government’s drive to increase the number of doctors in the NHS.

The four-year course is for graduates of any discipline who want to build a career in medicine, and provides places for 20 student doctors each year.

The clinical base is at the West Suffolk Hospital, and the course will be housed in a £2 million multi-disciplinary Education Centre which will be built by 2003, providing students and other hospital staff with a modern learning facility.

Professor Broers was welcomed to the Trust by Chairman Veronica Worrall and Chief Executive Johanna Finn.  He unveiled a slate plaque to commemorate this milestone in medical education.  The slate will eventually be housed in the new Education Centre.

The first students start on 24th September, and spend a week at the hospital before moving to one of three Cambridge Colleges: Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish College or Wolfson College.

West Suffolk Hospital consultant Dr Paul Siklos, who is also Associate Clinical Dean at the University of Cambridge, is the Course Director. A West Suffolk Hospital consultant has been elected to a Fellowship at each of the three Cambridge Colleges to act as Graduate Course Supervisor.

The students will return regularly to the West Suffolk throughout the course to receive practical experience and clinical teaching. The course also involves five local general practices, so that students can see patients being cared for from primary care onwards, and thus appreciate the contribution of all partners to the health care of patients.