Undergraduate
Medical Training
Financial
Accountability &
Quality
Enhancement
Annual Report
2014/15
UCL Medical School is one of the largest in the country and it has the widest range of integrated BSc
opportunities in the UK.
With an internationally acknowledged faculty of education and research leaders and a committed team
of NHS based teachers, together with our associated university hospitals and a wide range of other
placement providers, we aim to provide the best possible student experience and prepare our
graduates to meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's patients and to thrive in 21st century
healthcare environments.
UCL Medical School is committed to excellence in education. The Medical School has a strong
reputation for teaching informed by cutting-edge research and a distinguished cadre of academic staff.
UCL Medical School has a range of clinical facilities, teaching laboratories, lecture theatres and
libraries. This infrastructure, dedicated team of internationally acknowledged world leaders and highly
trained technical staff, provides the ideal learning environment for medical students.

One of the top ranking universities in the UK for research in basic medical sciences and clinical
medicine

Experiencing research-led teaching from current leaders in basic medical science and clinical
medicine

Opportunity to learn anatomy through dissection, in addition to prosection, computer simulation
imaging and other modern methods

Clinical teaching in some of London’s world famous hospitals, by leading healthcare professionals

Opportunity to practise clinical skills in our fully equipped clinical skills centres

A medical school truly integrated into the multi-faculty institution of UCL with all the associated
benefits in terms of sporting, cultural and social facilities

The widest range of integrated BSc opportunities in the UK

Strongly supportive environment with welfare clinics to address medical students’ concerns
Status of this report
This report has been prepared for the sole use by HE NCEL, and no responsibility
is taken by the Medical School to any director / member or officer in their
individual capacity, or to any third party.
Contents
Summary
Introduction
Detailed Report
A. Student number time series information to highlight future bulge and fallow intakes
Student population as at 1 December 2014
Forecast for Autumn 2016 intake
Number of qualifiers in summer 2014
B. Summary of SIFT expenditure against budget
C. Reporting of quality assurance exercises
QA of Clinical Placement Providers
QA of the MBBS Programme
D. Summary of developments, innovations, best practice to include significant future changes
to the curriculum or any other important achievements
Appendix 1 - UCLMS Student Evaluation Questionnaires Departmental Summary
Appendix 2 - UCLMS MEPAR summary
Appendix 3 – UCLMS Year 6 visit summary
Appendix 4 - UCL Annual Student Experience Review (ASER) Self Evaluation Report and
Development and Enhancement Plan
Appendix 5 – UCLMS Annual Return for the GMC (MSAR)
Introduction
Detailed Report
A. Student number time series information to
highlight future bulge and fallow intakes
Student population as at 1 December 2014
Table 1
Student Population by year group and by Home / EU and
Overseas as at 1 December 2014
Year Group
Home/EU
Overseas
Total Population
Year 1
293
24
317
Year 2
312
23
335
New Year 3 (IBSc)
281
20
301
New Year 4
342
32
374
New Year 5
303
34
337
New Year 6
334
12
346
Forecast for Autumn 2016 intake
Table 2
Forecast for Autumn 2016 intake by year group and by Home /
EU and Overseas
Year Group
Home/EU
Overseas
Total Population
Year 1
306
24
330
Year 2
299
32
331
New Year 3 (IBSc)
260
20
280
New Year 4
382
22
404
New Year 5
366
21
387
New Year 6
331
28
359
This replaces the forecast for Autumn 2015 which has been superceded by actual intake.
Number of qualifiers in summer 2014
Table 3
Number of qualifiers in Summer 2014
*The 17 who did not qualify, repeated the course in 2014-15
Number qualified, repeating or failed
Qualified
357
Repeating
Failed
10
Did not complete / withdrew
7
Total
374
B. Summary of SIFT expenditure against budget
Table 4
Summary of SIFT expenditure 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015
2014-15 Act
(HENCEL) as at
April 2014
BUDGET at
Q1
Budget Elements
ACTUAL
VARIANCE
IN LONDON SIFT SLA Trusts
BARKING, HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
BARNET AND CHASE FARM HOSPITALS NHS
TRUST
BARNET, ENFIELD AND HARINGEY MENTAL
HEALTH NHS TRUST
CAMDEN AND ISLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION
TRUST
CENTRAL AND NORTH WEST LONDON NHS
FOUNDATION TRUST
CENTRAL LONDON COMMUNITY
HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST
GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL FOR
CHILDREN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL NHS
FOUNDATION TRUST
NORTH MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
NHS TRUST
ROYAL BROMPTON & HAREFIELD NHS
FOUNDATION TRUST
ROYAL FREE LONDON NHS FOUNDATION
TRUST
8.12
330,168
330,168
£0
£0
See RFL
5.74
238,547
238,547
46.31
1,961,340
1,961,340
37.40
1,572,222
1,572,222
0.25
10,657
10,657
4.88
217,229
217,229
4.84
211,849
211,849
29.30
1,218,401
1,218,401
1.47
63,802
63,802
246.82
10,604,516
10,604,516
8
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
ROYAL NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL
NHS TRUST
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS
NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
THE WHITTINGTON HOSPITAL NHS TRUST
TAVISTOCK AND PORTMAN NHS
FOUNDATION TRUST
Sub Total
Budget Elements
1.67
68,134
68,134
227.71
10,230,348
10,230,348
159.07
6,682,586
6,682,586
0.76
32,583
32,583
774.34
33,442,382
33,442,382
FTE
BUDGET
ACTUAL
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
VARIANCE
OUT OF LONDON SIFT SLA Trusts
BASILDON AND THURROCK UNIVERSITY
HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
EAST AND NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE NHS
TRUST
LUTON AND DUNSTABLE UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
WEST HERTFORDSHIRE HOSPITALS NHS
TRUST
SURREY AND SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS
TRUST
NORTH ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY
NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
SOUTH ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY
NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Sub Total
GP Education and Infrastructure (inc Small and Tasked
GP)
GP Clinical Placement
£0
40.08
1,558,161
1,558,161
20.98
828,420
828,420
44.53
1,727,182
1,727,182
13.29
538,714
538,714
0.05
2,016
2,016
0.01
376
376
£0
0.20
7,686
7,686
£0
4,662,555
4,662,555
£0
-
431,845
431,845
£0
137.06
1,635,537
1,635,537
£0
119.14
9
£0
£0
£0
£0
GP Facilities
-
856,500
856,500
£0
137.06
2,923,882
2,923,882
£0
Non Contract Trust Budget (includes Non SLA Trusts)
0.0
Fully allocated at Q5.
Medical School Direct funding (at Q5)
5.1
204,000
110,967
93,033
5.1
204,000
110,967
93,033
Sub Total
Sub Total
NB Providers regularly claim after the end of the budget year.
10
£0
CLINICAL TOTAL
Clinical Total
Budget Elements
1,035.64
41,232,819
FTE
BUDGET
41,139,786
ACTUAL
93,033
VARIANCE
ADMIN BUDGET
Teaching the Teachers
-
117,837
117,837
£0
Occupational Health
-
0
0
£0
CRB Checks
-
0
0
£0
Clinical Skills Tutors
-
140,018
140,018
£0
SIFT Co-ordination Budget
-
158,478
158,478
£0
Simulated Patients for teaching and assessment
-
26,778
26,778
£0
Patient Database Administrator
-
15,173
15,173
£0
Admin Total
-
458,284
458,284
£0
Total
1,035.64
41,691,103
41,598,070
93,033
11
12
C. Reporting of quality assurance exercises
QA of Clinical Placement Providers
The MBBS Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) was set up in 2004 to ensure that the Medical School meets
the quality management needs of both the GMC Quality Assurance of Basic Medical Education
(QABME) procedures and the UCL requirements for quality monitoring and enhancement and has a
clear framework for organising and ensuring quality management and quality control of an increasingly
integrated programme in a complex and dynamic educational and service environment.
The MBBS Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) is academically led by Dr Ann Griffin, the Academic Lead for
Quality who leads on all its activities. She is supported by a full time QAU manager and a full time
QAU assistant.
The role of the MBBS QAU is to ensure: that high standards in teaching, learning and assessment are
supported through timely and detailed feedback; that problems can be systematically and rapidly
identified and addressed; and that good practice in undergraduate education across the programme is
recognised and rewarded. The QAU has a key role in helping the MBBS programme leads interpret,
respond to and reconcile the demands of its multiple stakeholders (students, staff, NHS providers and
academic Divisions) and ensuring its procedures and policies are compliant with the expectation of
UCL, the GMC and Health Education England. In order to fulfil this role, the QAU is responsible for coordinating the following:
Internal monitoring of the programme, including clinical placements, is through:
 Development and dissemination of teaching standards / guidelines
 Student evaluation questionnaires (SEQs) and other student experience data generating activities
(‘Raising concerns’ and the new ‘name and proclaim’ reporting systems, the MBBS no-show
system for reporting teaching cancellations)
 Collection of, and action on, annual self-assessment returns by placement providers known as
Medical Education Provider Annual Returns (MEPAR)
 Targeted visits to providers who fail to return a MEPAR
 Collaborative participation in Undergraduate Teaching Committees at the main NHS placement
providers
 Attendance at Undergraduate Teaching Committees at associated Trust providers on a rotating
basis every 3 years
 Informal, light touch visits to providers by Year 5 and Year 6 teams to share developments and
review feedback; promote good relations; share good practice and support the quality of education
provision within the requirements of the Learning and Development Agreements and other
guidelines issues by the School, GMC and LETB.
 Liaison with student representatives
 Overseeing the Reward and Recognition scheme (including the Top Teachers and Excellence in
Medical Education Awards)
External monitoring
Ensuring that procedures are established and maintained which allow the School to respond in a
systematic and transparent manner to the regulatory requirements of the:
 QAA (via UCL IQR and Annual Monitoring),


GMC (through the QUABME and Medical School Annual Return (MSAR) Education Provider
Annual Return processes) and
Health Education England Education Commissioner requirements via this annual return to
HENCEL
The Medical School’s Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Committee (mQMEC): oversees the
activities of the QAU and identifies quality enhancement priorities for the curriculum committees and
NHS providers. The committee reports to the MBBS Teaching Committee.
The QAU works closely with the Tariff Office, the three central NHS Trusts and DGHs, the Sub Dean
for Community (who is responsible for all GP placements), UCL Academic Services and committees
across the MBBS programme.
QA of Clinical Placement Providers:
The following QA monitoring documents are attached:
1) UCLMS Student Evaluation Questionnaires Departmental Summary (Appdx 1)
2) UCLMS MEPAR summary (Appdx 2)
3) UCLMS Year 6 visit summary (Appdx 3)
QA of the MBBS Programme:
4) UCL Annual Student Experience Review (ASER) Self Evaluation Report and Development
and Enhancement Plan (Appdx 4)
5) UCLMS Annual Return for the GMC (MSAR) (Appdx 5)
D. Summary of developments, innovations, best
practice to include significant future changes to the
curriculum or any other important achievements
The UCL Annual Student Experience Review (ASER) completed by the Medical School as part of
UCL’s internal QA processes includes an evaluative report and development and enhancement plan,
summarised below:
The MBBS was significantly improved in 2012 with the introduction of MBBS 2012 and many of the
changes to the MBBS programme over the last few years have been in relation to preparing for, and
the embedding of, this new curriculum. Developments have also been aligned to the four key
principles of MBBS 2012: to provide the best possible student experience; to reflect the needs of
st
today’s and tomorrow’s patients; to create 21 century doctors able to thrive in modern healthcare
environments and to maximise the benefits of learning medicine at UCL. Other changes have been
made in response to the National Student Survey or student feedback through our formal and informal
systems.
In the academic year 2014/15 significant changes include:

The reconfiguration of the modules in year 2 to allow for a module focusing on Genetics,
Development and Cancer; to address the need for modern medical students to understand
the fundamentals of the genomics revolution in healthcare and research

Changes to the timing of the final exams better to prepare students for practice by moving the
elective to the post-finals period and introducing a ‘preparation for practice’ special study
module that focusses on day 1 competencies at work and now takes place after finals and
after completion of all core modules and placements

Introduction of ‘quarantining’ during OSCE examinations to eliminate exchange of information
between candidates in early and later circuits and address student perceptions of advantage
for those examined in later circuits

Introduction of redesigned individual feedback on assessments: both the knowledge test
performance and OSCE station feedback forms for the summative assessments in year 4 and
5.

A re-design of the Consolidation Integration and Feedback weeks in years 1 & 2

Introduction of further patient-centred care patient pathways and student Schwartz rounds to
better prepare students for patient-centred practice

Introduction of GP led workshops in women’s health and mental health to increase exposure
to primary care
Given the significant changes to the curriculum and the disruption it caused, particularly with students
already in the latter years of the programme, we were delighted to maintain our high NSS satisfaction
rates.
Encouraged by our active student body we have made major decisions through staff and student
working groups, often complemented by whole student body votes. These include the change in finals
timing the decision to quarantine students during OSCEs listed above and changes to our attendance
and engagement policy. We have introduced Town Hall Meetings in years 4, 5 and 6 to increase the
routes of gathering and acting upon student feedback, and in Year 6 taking a student vote on the
topics to be addressed during Anchor Days.
We are delighted to have started using the Cruciform Hub which is very highly regarded by our
students.
In the last academic year nine students have won National awards or prizes including the Faculty of
Public Health Cochrane Award. 14 core or associated Faculty teaching on the MBBS programme won
awards last year: either becoming Fellows or Senior Fellows Higher Education Academy or winning
teaching awards external to the medical school including one Provost’s Teaching Award. Achievement
of both Faculty and students are publicised and celebrated in our termly Medical School newsletter.
The senior leadership team has changed in the last academic year with Professor Deborah Gill taking
over as the new Director of the Medical School and Dr Will Coppola joining as the Divisional Tutor
which has allowed a review and consolidation of the student support structure.
Appendices
Appendix 1 - UCLMS Student Evaluation Questionnaires Departmental Summary
Appendix 2 - UCLMS MEPAR summary
Appendix 3 – UCLMS Year 6 visit summary
Appendix 4 - UCL Annual Student Experience Review (ASER) Self Evaluation Report and
Development and Enhancement Plan
Appendix 5 – UCLMS Annual Return for the GMC (MSAR)