AQW 3418/16-21 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health for her assessment of the current operation of the Supplement for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 19 September 2016
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 19 September 2016
- Answer due by
- 4 October 2016
- Answered
- 4 October 201615 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Supplement for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education (SUMDE) is a vital component of supporting the supply of future medical and dental staff for the North’s Health and Social Care (HSC) sector. My Department keeps the SUMDE funding allocation model, which distributes nearly £38m per year, under continuous review to enhance accountability in the expenditure by HSC Trusts and ensure that it supports changes in the medical and dental undergraduate curricula delivered by QUB. For example, in 2016/17 funding of £350k has been redirected from HSC Trusts to support an increase in clinical placements in primary care settings. This is part of a progressive process to significantly rebalance the medical undergraduate curriculum to reflect the shift of service delivery from hospital to community settings under Transforming Your Care.