This position paper sets out the Medical Schools Council’s proposal to expand the number of medical students in the UK by 5,000 per year, bringing the total to 14,500 graduates annually. It outlines the urgent need for workforce planning in response to NHS staffing shortages, the ageing population and the long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The paper also explores the challenges and opportunities associated with expansion, including funding, placement capacity and widening participation.
Summary
This publication presents analysis and recommendations across five key areas:
- the case for increasing medical student numbers to meet NHS workforce needs
- historical context and trends in UK medical school expansion
- challenges to expansion, including cost, clinical placements and academic staffing
- proposals for strategic, equitable growth in medical education
- the importance of widening participation and regional distribution
Key findings
- The UK has never trained enough doctors to be self-sufficient and relies heavily on international graduates.
- An increase of 5,000 medical students per year is proposed to address NHS workforce shortages.
- Expansion should prioritise under-doctored and deprived areas, and support diverse entry routes into medicine.
- Placement capacity, particularly in primary care, is a major constraint but could be improved through funding reform and digital learning.
- A strategic, UK-wide approach is needed to ensure sustainable and equitable growth in medical education.
Recommendations
- Increase medical student places by 5,000 per year, with a focus on areas of greatest need.
- Develop new medical schools and expand existing ones, supported by adequate funding and placement infrastructure.
- Reform funding models to ensure transparency and better use of the undergraduate medical tariff.
- Invest in clinical academic careers and support innovative teaching methods to expand capacity.
- Promote widening participation through contextual admissions, alternative entry routes and regional outreach.
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