New facility boosts training for future doctors in Kent.

A new building supporting the expansion of medical education in Kent has opened at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

In partnership with the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) and also with King’s College London and City St George’s, University of London, the new Undergraduate Medical Building enables the trust to host up to 173 medical students and trainee doctors each year.

Supporting clinical placements for medical students from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust’s partner medical schools, the new, six-storey building enables them to live close to the hospital, so they have direct access to medical and surgical services to complete their studies.

Chief Executive, Miles Scott said: “This building is giving medical students an excellent experience while they are training, helping us attract and retain future generations of exceptional doctors as they can live, learn and work close to their clinical placements.

“This development strengthens our role as a teaching trust and reflecting our commitment to growing the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

As a result of the partnership with KMMS, the trust is increasing the number of medical students it hosts six-fold – from 37 to 173 each year.

Professor Chris Holland, Founding Dean of KMMS and Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine said: “Since September 2020, the Kent and Medway Medical School has been educating aspiring doctors to train to deliver 21st century medicine. Our aim is to attract talented students from all backgrounds and deliver opportunities to help transform the future of healthcare.

“This building helps our future doctors get the most out of the clinical placements that are such a vital part of their training.”

The ground floor of the building houses academic space – a learning hub, private study, offices and toilets – as well as en-suite flats with accessible facilities, communal kitchens, dining and living areas.

The building has achieved a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Excellent’ rating, placing it within the top 10% of new non-domestic buildings in the UK to receive the rating and has solar panels and a green roof. A new meadow grass terraced bank has been created, a woodland walk ensures natural habitats are retained, and more than 70 bicycle spaces have also been provided.