THE UK’S first GP and mental health training centre opens today (SEP 16) at the University of Aberdeen.

The centre in the University’s health sciences building will see medical students work with real patients with the supervision of experts.

Patients will attend the centre after being invited by their GP or the mental health team and will be assessed with an appointment on the same day.

Final year medical students will work in the centre alongside four full-time GP roles, a consultant psychiatrist and support staff. It is hoped the creation of the centre will allow thousands more appointments in Aberdeen, while giving students practical placements.

The initiative is being led by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian. Executive medical director Hugh Farrow Bishop said: “The general practice and mental health training centre provides a unique opportunity for patients to contribute directly to the education of future doctors of all types – for whom general practice and psychiatry experience are vital parts of their developing skills.

“This centre will allow them to do this through supervise clinical consultations. Patients will be invited to attend through established GP and mental health pathways, with participating practices and clinical teams identifying individuals who may wish to take part.”

He added: “Participation is entirely voluntary. Students will assess the patient and present their findings to the supervising clinician, who will review the patient as required, authorise the clinical assessment and management plan, and retain responsibility for all clinical decisions.

“Consultations will be recorded using NHS Grampian clinical systems, with relevant information and any required follow up communicated to the patient’s registered practice or responsible clinical team.”

The centre will look and function like a modern GP practice and will prioritise health problems that need attention within 1-2 days.

Aberdeen University’s head of the school of medicine, medical sciences and nutrition Professor David Blackburn believes the initiative will hugely benefit students. He said: “The opening of this UK-first GP and mental health teaching centre marks a major milestone for medial education in Aberdeen and across the country.

“As student numbers continue to rise nationally, universities must find new and innovative ways to ensure every future doctor receives the high quality, supervised clinical experience required under GMC standards. This centre allows us to do exactly that.”

He aded: “Working alongside existing GP and mental health services, the teaching centre will provide students with valuable supervised clinical experience while creating additional opportunities for patient engagement in education. It complements the wide range of placements that students undertake across Scotland, ensuring they continue to learn in diverse real world healthcare settings while supporting local services and workforce development.

“By creating a dedicated, fully equipped teaching environment that mirrors a modern GP practice, we can provide thousands of additional patient appointments each year while giving students meaningful, face-to-face experience with real patients. It is an approach that strengthens learning, supports GP practices and psychiatry services, and ensures our graduates are confident, capable and ready for the realities of clinical practice.”

The centre will be funded by the NHS Scotland Medical Additional Cost of Teaching funding.

Professor Blackburn concluded: “Working in close partnership with NHS Grampian, we are helping to build the GP and psychiatry workforce Scotland needs, while setting a new national benchmark for how universities and health systems can collaborate to deliver outstanding clinical training.

“The University of Aberdeen has a long and proud history of innovation in medical education, and we are delighted to continue that tradition with a model that is the first of its kind in the UK.”