New school programme aims to get more Doncaster A-level pupils interested in medicine

Dr Dean Eggitt is a GP from Cantley who wants to encourage more pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to go into the medical field.

He has decided to set up the first pre medical programme in the UK here in Doncaster.

He said: “This is a model that is used widely in the USA, students get to experience a little bit of the medical world before they decide that it’s the career they want to dedicate their lives to.

“Students will get the opportunity to learn alongside their A-levels before they go to university.”

The course will cover topics such as CPR, breast examinations and how to get into medical courses after sixth form.

“The competition is extremely tough,” he continued.

“The ratio is about one in 20 for these kids applying to medical degrees.

“There’s a whole section in the admission process about understanding what a doctor does and why they're the right candidate.

“A lot of pupils can’t prove this because they don’t have any experience.”

Dean hopes that the pre medical school will give pupils an advantage when the time comes to apply.

The course will cost £800 per student but Dean is passionate about scholarships.

“I grew up in Scunthorpe in a single parent household without two pennies to rub together,” he said.

“Medicine is quite institutionalized but people from disadvantaged backgrounds often make better doctors.

“They’re more empathetic and resilient but the problem is that these people just don’t have a key to open the door to medicine.”

A big part of the course is ensuring pupils are ready to socialise and mix with other young medical students at university as there is often a social gap.

The pre medical school will open on January 11, 2021.

Their base is at Hill House school in Auckley.

Dean is currently looking for sponsors who will fund students in the programme to ensure that a diverse range of students can access this opportunity.

Any A-level student in Doncaster can apply, you can register interest by emailing [email protected]

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