NHS Fife has been granted official university status by the Scottish parliament, recognising its educational, training and research work and new role in supporting St Andrews University medical students to stay in the area throughout their undergraduate training.

The development will enable NHS Fife to extend its medical training and cutting-edge research work to play a greater role in addressing regional and national health challenges, helping to improve outcomes for patients in Fife and much further afield.

The board will officially become ‘NHS Fife University Health Board’ this month, formalising its long partnership with the University of St Andrews.

While this will be the board’s fuller title to recognise its expanding collaboration on educational and research work with the University of St Andrews, the health board logo will continue to be NHS Fife.

NHS Fife Chief Executive Carol Potter said the new designation will help the health board “play an even greater role” in shaping the future of healthcare in Scotland:

“Becoming a University Health Board is a landmark moment for NHS Fife and a testament to the strength of our partnership with the University of St Andrews.

“We are incredibly proud to be leading the way as the first Scottish health board in over half a century to receive this honour.”

This collaboration will allow St Andrews medical students to complete their clinical years with placements across NHS Fife.

Previously sending medical students to other universities for their final two years, the first cohort of the new five-year medical degree entirely at St Andrews will begin this September.

As part of achieving University status, NHS Fife will now also welcome a member of St Andrews to its board.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP said:

“It is great to see this partnership between NHS Fife and the University of St Andrews, this will be an excellent opportunity to embed research, education and training across the region.

“It’s exciting to see how this new status will continue to drive improvements and ensure that patients receive the best possible care.”

Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews Professor Sally Mapstonie FRSE said the University health board status marks a “significant milestone” in the partnership, adding:

“It will see the University of St Andrews take an active role in shaping local and national healthcare by joining the NHS Fife Board and contributing directly to strategic decision-making.

“This development strengthens our commitment to advancing research, delivering world-class teaching, and playing a leading role in addressing the health and wellbeing of our communities.

“Our responsibility as a university is not only to educate and graduate the next generation of medical professionals but also to work alongside our NHS colleagues to secure its future, playing a vital role in supporting the development of innovative solutions to regional and national health challenges and improving outcomes for patients in Fife and beyond.”

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