Key milestone reached in development of independent North Wales Medical School

In an unprecedented milestone, Bangor University is celebrating the graduation of its first cohort of medical students, who have completed their education entirely within North Wales.

The achievement is seen as a key step towards the establishment of an independent North Wales Medical School.

The landmark event is the result of a partnership between Bangor University, Cardiff University, the Welsh Government, and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, aiming to address regional healthcare needs by training doctors within North Wales.

The collaborative success between academic teams and regional health communities who provided vital support is also being recognised.

Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services, commended the graduates, stating, “They are the future of medicine in North Wales.” She hailed the graduation as a significant milestone for the creation of the North Wales Medical School, which aims to address future staffing needs in healthcare.

The North Wales Medical School, pending approval from the General Medical Council, will start independent training accredited by Bangor University from 2024.

The university anticipates steady growth, reaching its full student capacity by 2029.

This incremental growth strategy ensures thorough quality assessment of education and student experience.

“This is an important milestone and exciting first step in expanding medical training in North Wales and recruiting and retaining doctors in the region,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Jones.

Professor Mike Larvin, Executive Head of the University’s Medical and Health Sciences School, expressed immense pride in the first graduating class.

He emphasised the role of this new generation of doctors in addressing the challenge of recruiting healthcare professionals to North Wales and expressed gratitude for the crucial support from their partners at Cardiff University.

This development symbolises Bangor University’s commitment to offering educational opportunities deeply connected to the local community, anticipating that many of the new doctors will continue their medical careers and training in North Wales.

With a new intake of medical students expected in September, the future for healthcare in North Wales looks promising.