Stephen Morgan MP has called on the Government to back the University of Portsmouth’s bid to open a medical school in the city.
The City MP made the comments in the House of Commons in a question to the Health Secretary, saying that opening the medical school would help deal with the NHS doctors and nurses shortages in Portsmouth and across the country.
Speaking in support of the University of Portsmouth’s bid, Mr Morgan said in Parliament:
“The Government has slashed medical school places by a third. Labour is committed to doubling the number of placements to train a new generation of NHS staff.
“Will the minister support me in backing the University of Portsmouth’s bid for a much needed medical school for my city?”
Data released last year showed Portsmouth had the highest number of patients per doctor in the country – twice the number of Liverpool.
Across the country there are record numbers of nursing vacancies in the NHS, with 47,000 posts unfilled according to the latest figures. 40,000 nurses and 20,000 doctors had left the NHS in the past year, only 7,000 of whom retired.
Labour is committed to doubling the number of medical school places to train a new generation of NHS staff, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, so the NHS has the workforce it desperately needs.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:
“More than 7 million people are waiting for NHS treatment and they are waiting longer than ever before, often in pain and discomfort.
“Data released last year showed Portsmouth had the highest number of patients per doctor in the country – twice the number of Liverpool.
“A medical school in Portsmouth would really help make sure that our city has the number of doctors and nurses needed to provide people with the care they deserve. I hope the government listens to the people of Portsmouth and backs the University’s bid.”
You can view Stephen’s question and the Minister response here. The latest intervention in Parliament follows a series of actions the Portsmouth South MP is taking to protect local health services and ensure the NHS workforce for the future.
