The Government has confirmed that Anglia Ruskin University can start educating doctors from this September at Essex’s first undergraduate School of Medicine.

This is the first time a new medical school has been awarded publicly-funded places in 12 years.

In an announcement made on Tuesday, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that 100 places have been allocated to Anglia Ruskin.

The £20million School of Medicine building on the Chelmsford campus, which is nearing completion, will feature state-of-the-art skills facilities, specialist teaching space, a lecture theatre and an anatomy suite.

Vicky Ford MP said: “This is fantastic news for Chelmsford and for the NHS across Essex. The facilities at Anglia Ruskin University are state of the art and it already has a reputation for high quality teaching and research.

“There is currently no local medical school for Essex students wanting to study to become doctors, they will now be given priority in the application process. This will help train a new generation of doctors for the future.”

Anglia Ruskin is collaborating with five NHS hospitals, a large mental health trust and more than 60 GP surgeries to provide students with a range of clinical experience in urban and rural environments. Students will be taught by visiting clinicians from NHS Trusts and general practice as well as faculty staff.

Dr Ruth Jackson, Director and Pro Vice Chancellor of the School of Medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “Essex has a stressed health economy with one of the highest patient to GP ratios in the country. By educating talented and motivated students here rather than see them leave to carry out their undergraduate education elsewhere, we can help address this urgent need.

“Anglia Ruskin has more than 20 years’ experience of providing healthcare education in the region and we are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with our NHS partners. This is a hugely significant but logical step for our university.”

Clare Panniker, Chief Executive of Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is very good news for the region and we welcome the allocation of undergraduate places for medical students.

“This allows a further opportunity to develop our relationship with Anglia Ruskin University and secure the future of health provision across Essex. We look forward to offering a number of clinical placements across our hospitals in mid and south Essex and know they will receive a very warm welcome.”