Funding rules 'hit medic schools'

Medical teaching is suffering, academics say

Medical schools are suffering under the system used to fund university departments, academics say.

The Research Assessment Exercise means departments given top ratings receive more money than those deemed less good. Academics at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' medical school, in London, say teaching staff have been cut in some institutions to make savings.

An article in The Lancet calls for safeguards to ensure money is put aside for training, not just research.

'Looking for stars'

Economies being made, such as not replacing professors who retire, were "disturbing".

Lack of funding compromises medical training and jeopardises research which could benefit patients, the article adds.

It also claims that clinical academics have been cut to recruit more "basic scientists", whose research does more to attract funding under RAE rules.

One of the article's authors, Professor Jangu Banatvala, said deans of medical schools had to behave like "Premier Division football clubs", having to recruit "potential research stars" to improve funding ratings.

This came "at the expense of teaching and clinical practice".

He added: "There is currently corporate insanity afflicting UK medical schools and their parent institutions.

"Without drastic changes in the balance of priorities, there seems little prospect that the schools will continue to enjoy the high reputation they have had in the past."

The British Medical Association recently warned that university science department closures - partly caused by the RAE funding structure - would damage medicine.

Three universities have recently axed chemistry courses and the BMA says further closures would threaten future research.