Medical dilemmas

You reported that government officials had "assured" heads of medical schools that they did not face another round of expansion ("Medical school expansion ruled out", THES , April 26). Our members working in medical schools in London would welcome assurance that they do not face redundancy.

About 200 posts have already been lost in "voluntary" severance exercises at the medical schools at Imperial College and Queen Mary, University of London, over the past two years.

The strategic plan for the Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine proposes a net loss of 132 posts, including 41 academic and 38 clinical academic staff. In addition, 42 posts will go in the School of Biomedical Sciences.

The failure to fund the research assessment exercise now threatens further job losses. It means the loss of £2.6 million a year for Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry. "Substantial" staffing reductions are being sought, and a redundancy committee has been formed.

The government advocates joined-up thinking. We could do with some in relation to medical schools. The secretary of state for health promises 54 per cent more medical school graduates a year. How will this be done with fewer staff?

Peter Mitchell
Association of University Teachers
assistant general secretary (London region)