St George's takes the fast-track lead

A BRITISH medical school is presenting plans for the first fast-track degree for would-be doctors to the General Medical Council this week. London's St George's Hospital Medical School hopes to admit its first all-graduate intake in May 1999 for a three-year degree. But it must first win approval from the GMC and the University of London.

The GMC will consider whether the course meets its criteria as well as European directives which say medical students should complete at least a six year degree or 5,500 hours medical training. British medical students now do a minimum five-year degree and a year working in a hospital before getting full registration.