MSP to Hold Talks Over Dental School

A North-east MSP is holding urgent talks with Aberdeen University today over concerns he and party colleagues have about the city’s new pounds15million dental school.

Liberal Democrat Mike Rumbles will meet Professor Mike Greaves, head of the university’s medical school, to express concerns about how the new school, which is opening in October, a will be run.

The meeting comes a week after Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen highlighted in the Scottish Parliament that students enrolling on the four-year postgraduate course would have to pay tuition fees of pounds6,940. The Aberdeen South MSP and his party are unhappy that the school, which will be based initially at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, will accommodate only 20 students, against 63 at the dental school in Dundee and 90 in Glasgow.

The Lib Dems are concerned that students are unable to apply through the normal University and College Admission Service and have to possess a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a medical subject to secure a place.

The party is also unhappy that some classes will be taught via video link from Dundee University, which will award degrees jointly with Aberdeen University.

Mr Rumbles, MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said last night it was clear the Granite City would not be getting its own dental school but a facility that was an extension of Dundee Dental School.

First Minister Alex Salmond said last week that the government was committed to opening a dental school in Aberdeen and informed Mr Stephen that his concerns related to the “transitional” phase of development and not the permanent position.

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