BMA: University closures put UK medicine in jeopardy
The BMA has this morning warned that closures of science departments are placing the future of UK medicine in jeopardy.
Exeter University is currently embroiled in a high profile dispute over the closure of their chemistry department, with the parents of some students affected threatening to sue. But it is not the only chemistry department facing closure, with a number of universities saying that chemistry is too expensive to teach.
Though the Government has said they are looking at the problem and are committed to the future of science in the UK, the British Medical Association is calling on the Government to act now.
It is concerned that the current funding mechanism, the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) has had the side effect of worsening the situation. This awards money to universities based on their research output and gives them a rating of 0 – 5*. Academics warn that this has had the effect of funnelling the lion’s share of the money to 5 and 5* departments, leaving those on 4 disproportionately strapped for cash.
The BMA is calling for an immediate review of the funding situation and is supporting an Early Day Motion in the Commons deploring the closure of science departments.
Head of the BMA’s medical academics committee, Professor Michael Rees, said: “It is a bleak day for universities and students alike to see science subjects being withdrawn wholesale.
“Medicine in particular relies on integrated work across the sciences. If this trend of closures continues, it will cut off access to the range of knowledge vital for groundbreaking medical research.
“This short-sighted approach is not only causing problems now, but what of the future of science and medicine? Chemistry A-level is still a requirement for most medical schools. Without university chemistry departments, who will train the secondary school teachers of tomorrow? Is science to become a rare option in the classroom?
“If the UK is to stay a world leader in medicine, cutting university departments is not the way to do it. The Government must take action now.”
