UM Medical students were denied their placements because consultants were occupied by Barts Medical School students
In a series of events that have been ongoing for the last few years now, KSU and MMSA claim that Barts Medical School has started to tangibly impact UM Medical students. Both student organisations reported that Third Year medical students were denied their Gastroenterology placement earlier this week due to a lack of consultants at Mater Dei Hospital. KSU and MMSA have attributed this shortage in consultants to the fact that Barts Medical School students were occupying 2 consultants at the time for their own placements in the same area.
It is now abundantly clear that the new influx of Barts Medical students is already putting a strain on the system and is denying UM students full access to the academic staff at Mater Dei.
MMSA – KSU Task Force
KSU and MMSA have raised their concerns repeatedly regarding the issues that UM Medical Students might face as a result of Barts Medical School. However, these concerns have apparently been ignored. In April 2019 MMSA drew up a document entitled “Request and Safeguards” which sought to safeguard UM medical students education and avoid clashes with Barts Medical School similar to those that occured this week. This document, however, was essentially ignored by the Ministry of Health.
Since the number of students at Barts Medical School is expected to rise, MMSA and KSU have aired their concerns that more clashes are to be expected “to the detriment of the quality of medical education at UM.”
As of now, the Ministry of Health is yet to acknowledge the student organisation’s formal request to hold a meeting to discuss the current happenings.