6 medical students from a new graduate programme have begun placements at Tower House Surgery in Ryde as part of a push to tackle GP shortages on the Isle of Wight.
The students are enrolled on King’s College London’s Graduate Entry Medical Programme, delivered at the University of Portsmouth.
The course launched last year to address the critical shortage of doctors in the region, including on the Isle of Wight, where there are around 2,500 patients per GP.
This is the first time students from the programme have been placed on the Isle of Wight. They will gain early, hands-on experience in general practice, supported by local GP tutor Dr Haf Aladin.
Professor Richard Thelwell, Executive Dean of Science and Health at the University of Portsmouth, has said:
“By embedding medical education within communities in places like the Isle of Wight, the degree aims not only to provide students with comprehensive clinical experience but also to encourage them to establish their careers locally, helping to secure the future GP workforce for areas where doctors are most needed.”
Hovertravel is supporting the placements by offering discounted travel between Portsmouth and Ryde.
Loretta Lale, Head of Marketing and Digital Development at Hovertravel, said:
“We are deeply committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities on both sides of the Solent.
“By helping these future doctors travel easily and quickly between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, we’re proud to play a small part in strengthening the region’s medical workforce.”
Great to hear, the more the better.
J.S
Thus, the combined percentage of people from ethnic minorities (which includes Mixed, Asian, Black, and Other categories) is about 3.0% of the Isle of Wight’s population.
The percentage of ethnic minorities represented by these students would appear to be 85%. I would suggest that the chances of any of these aspiring medics actually establishing their careers here is very low indeed.
I wish them well, but I don’t see them working here long-term.
Majority of doctors in 2025 Britan are from
ethnic minorities, so not a problem.
The island needs to encourage more ethnic
families moving to the island.
I wish them luck, the island needs them.