UCLAN plans to open East Lancashire's first medical school in Burnley (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

UCLAN plans to open East Lancashire's first medical school in Burnley

10:54am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

DOCTORS could be trained at a new East Lancashire university facility.

Early talks have started on opening a medical school at the University of Central Lancashire campus in Princess Way, Burnley.

Burnley MP Gordon Birt-wistle said he was ‘blown away’ by the prospect of East Lancashire’s first medical school opening in the town.

He said: “It would be unbelievable for Burnley.

“Who would have thought three or four years ago that we would have a medical school here?

“People would have laughed at me, but it is happening.”

UCLan confirmed that preliminary discussions about the facility had started, but that it would be several years before it would open.

A spokesman for the university said: “The university has major strengths in dental and health-related education and has commissioned a feasibility study to examine the possibility of establishing an independent medical school.

“Currently UCLan is looking at the university estate to determine if existing buildings could be used to house the development.

“The Burnley campus is being considered as part of that process.”

Mr Birtwistle said that with the new student accom-modation being built in the town centre, Burnley would be prepared to train some of the best doctors from all over the world. He said: “It would put us on the map, it is going to be fantastic.

“Burnley is known as a manufacturing town and it is well-known for its for its skills in engineering.

“But we do not have skills like a medical school would bring, so this is great news.

“Burnley is becoming one of the leading towns, certainly in the north.

“Our unemployment is going down and we have so much going on.”

Burnley is also home to Quest Dental Care, a training facility for student dental nurses, dentists and dental therapists from UClan based in Red Lion Street.