Teesside medical school plan announced by university and council

Plans to open a new medical school have been revealed by a council and a university, who have promised to work together.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teesside University in its proposals to create the facility in Teesdale Business Park.

The council will support the university in seeking approval from the government and the General Medical Council to confirm the need for the school in the region.

One key objective raised in the MoU was to "remove barriers which may prevent people from accessing training" and reduce "health inequalities" in the Tees Valley.

The council said the agreement formed part of a scheme called Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone.

There are also aims to redevelop the St Mark's Basin area by creating a new care and health educational hub.

It comes as work on a new multimillion-pound urban park in Stockton started in April.

Council leader Bob Cook said the MoU was a "huge step" in creating a site used for "pioneering, modern health provision" in the area.

"Teesside University has an outstanding reputation for healthcare education provision and I am delighted to be working in collaboration to provide significant opportunities for teaching, research and collaboration on this site," he added.

Teesside University's vice-chancellor Prof Paul Croney said: "By working together we maximise our collective impact on reducing health inequalities, driving cutting edge service delivery, developing skills infrastructure and provision that meet the needs of our region."