PLANS are afoot to create a medical school for training doctors and nurses in Lancashire and Cumbria.

The Strategic Health Authority for the two counties is working with St Martin's College and the Universities of Central Lancashire, Manchester and Liverpool on the feasibility of creating a new medical school.

Together, the two counties form the largest geographical area in England without its own medical school - and around 250 students have to leave the area to train.

Now the Government, which is trying to recruit more doctors and medics for the NHS, is inviting bids for funding to set up a new school.

Cumbria and Lancashire SHA says plans are at an early stage.

Chairman Kath Reade says: "There is no doubt that having a medical school in the area would be beneficial in many respects, attracting large groups of students to our area who could have the experience of working in our hospitals and clinics."

And she adds: "It would also be prestigious for the NHS locally, enabling us to attract more clinicians who enjoy teaching, so we are continuing discussions with all our partners in education to agree a way forward and make plans for the future."

A team created by the SHA to develop the idea is expected to produce a business plan by summer 2004.