First Minister tackled on the future of Swansea's Medical School

2.48.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Mar 2007

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has raised the future of Swansea's Medical School with the First Minister in the Assembly.

Mr. Black is concerned that the Medical School faces an uncertain future unless the Welsh Assembly Government takes swift action to enable it to offer its own four year medical degrees. Currently, the medical school offers a joint degree course in conjunction with Cardiff University in which students spend two years in Swansea and two years in Cardiff. This is delivered in accordance with the terms of a contract between the two universities that is due to expire in 2008.

It is considered unlikely that this contract can be renewed on these terms and if an alternative stand-alone course is to be developed in Swansea then that needs to be approved before the May elections so that the new course can be validated by the General Medical Council. However, the Assembly Government has put the whole process out to independent review meaning that any new degree will not be able to start in 2008.

"Swansea is enjoying enormous benefits from the presence of this medical school including the £50 million Life Sciences Centre and a £24 million per annum injection into the Swansea economy," said Mr. Black. "There are also research projects going on here and a stream of high quality graduates all of which are contributing to improved health for local people."

"The provision of a stand-alone Swansea degree is a natural evolution for the medical school and will help to secure its future. That is why I raised the matter with the First Minister today. His reply that the Government's review will not report until June means that there will be an hiatus during which time the medical school will effectively be treading water. That is not acceptable."