Five new medical schools are to be created by English universities in a bid to train more doctors.

Anglia Ruskin University is to start training medical students at its Chelmsford campus from September, followed by the University of Sunderland and a new partnership between the University of Nottingham and the University of Lincoln, based in Lincoln, the following year.

The final two medical schools ¨C one at Edge Hill University, and another a collaboration between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University ¨C will open in 2020.

The announcements were part of a wider initiative to increase the overall number of medical school places in England by 1,500 over the next three years.

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Madeleine Atkins, chief executive of the ÖйúAƬ Funding Council for England, said: ¡°This significant expansion opens the door for many more students, including students from underrepresented groups, to gain high-quality medical education and training.

¡°Following a rigorous competitive process, an ambitious portfolio of places has been allocated across both new and established medical schools, which will offer innovative training and provision.

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¡°Universities and colleges across the country play a vital role in supporting their local and regional communities. This initiative will provide highly skilled professionals, many of whom will go on to serve communities in areas of greatest need.¡±

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com