Stephen Morgan MP today [9 February] visited the University of Portsmouth’s proposed facilities following the announcement they will begin to train doctors in the city within a new medical school, to learn more about how the University will contribute to the GP crisis facing Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth MP toured the facilities which are currently under construction and learnt more about the upcoming opportunities for students to develop in academic and clinical settings, including at Portsmouth University NHS Trust’s Queen Alexandra Hospital.
The University of Portsmouth will soon deliver a medical course leading to a King’s College Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree (MBBS) through the expertise of academics from both institutions. The course will focus on integrated medical science with clinical teaching, and on learning in close contact with patients.
The University expressed its commitment to ensuring this development will contribute to reducing the waiting times local people experience in gaining access to services.
Future students at the University will do placements at local GP practices and QA Hospital with the ambition being that more doctors are retained to work in local health services as a result.
Portsmouth remains an area with some of the lowest average number of GPs per person in the country.
Mr Morgan previously welcomed the news Portsmouth will begin training its own doctors, following his tireless action to secure the new asset for Portsmouth by tabling questions in Parliament, lobbying Ministers directly, and meeting with the University to discuss proposals.
He now plans to continue working with the school to lobby the Government to ensure the University can go further in supporting efforts in Portsmouth to protect our local NHS and create a workforce fit for the future.
Commenting following the visit, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“I was pleased to meet with those responsible for turning the medical school vision into a reality for Portsmouth, having worked with the University and NHS partners to secure the bid.
“It’s great to see progress being made in getting the facility built and I look forward to seeing future qualified doctors from the university working in our local health services.
“With Portsmouth facing a crisis in GP access, this facility will be a vital asset for our city and I hope it will make a big difference in helping local people get an appointment when they need one.”
Caring for our local NHS is one of Mr Morgan’s key priorities. He has taken a range of actions to help improve access to Portsmouth’s NHS services, including raising concerns with regional health leaders about local GP practice closures, worked alongside campaigners calling for more GP practices to open in the city and holding ministers to account in Parliament on their failure to recruit the GPs and staff the NHS needs.
