University of Bolton meeting on School of Medicine plan

A meeting was held  to discuss  the 'historic development' with The School of Medicine being based at the new £40M building in the grounds of Royal Bolton Hospital.

A consultation event took place at the Deane Lecture Theatre at the university where  Vice Chancellor Professor George E Holmes, told those gathered he had been planning to launch a medical school three years after Bolton Institute of Higher Education became a university - and a year after Prof Holmes became Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Holmes said: “This is an historic development for this university, having a medical school.

“We believe in providing staff for the NHS and the health service more generally who represent the community they serve and that’s really important to us.

The meeting was attended by members of the public, councillors and medical professionals (Image: University of Bolton)

“What we know is that health outcomes are better when the health professionals are recognised by the community they serve and understand the needs of the community they serve.

“Supporting countries across the globe in educating their health workforces is massively important, but health also begins here at home, in terms of providing clinicians who come from here, train here, develop here, live here and stay here.

“They add to the community, they support the community and that is so central to this particular medical school.

“What makes us distinct and unique is our widening access, our inclusion, our view of doctors being compassionate when working with patients.”

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The event was chaired by the university provost, Professor Zubair Hanslot, with presentations also delivered by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust president Dr Fiona Noden and Pro Vice Chancellor of the university’s Institute of Medicine Professor Iqbal Singh.

Attendees including councillors, like Mayor of Bolton Cllr Mohammed Ayub, medical professionals and members of the public who took part in a question and answer question.

Together, they were shown a a time lapse video of the building’s construction, as well as a digital “walkthrough” of the facility, showing what it will look like when completed.

Dr Noden said: “Hopefully we will educate many more people than Bolton needs and those people will be educated in Bolton but work across the whole country.”

The £40M Bolton College of  Medical Sciences is a collaboration between the University of Bolton, Bolton College, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council made possible thanks to £20m of “levelling up” funding from the government.

The med school if approved will be part of the complex.

Once completed, the college is expected to train 3000 students a year and contribute as much as £150m.