Official Report 1700KB pdf
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20683, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on Edinburgh medical school 300. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises that, in 2026, medicine will have been formally taught at the University of Edinburgh for 300 years; notes that, while there remain challenges for the NHS and higher education, reflecting on 300 years of history provides an opportunity to provide honesty on the past, and consider opportunities for the future of medical education and research; congratulates the organisers, who have curated a rich and diverse programme of events to explore the 300 years, including lectures, alumni reunions and public events; understands the value that the Edinburgh Medical School has contributed to the economy and health of Scotland, and the world, including what it sees as its crucial place in life sciences research, health innovation and policy, and wishes all staff and students the best for 2026.
12:56
I start by thanking the colleagues who supported this motion and the colleagues who are in the chamber this afternoon. I am glad to contribute to the debate.
I also take the opportunity to welcome representatives from Edinburgh medical school and the University of Edinburgh who join us today, and to thank them for and congratulate them on their sterling work, because Edinburgh medical school 300—EMS 300—has been a massive success.
When we mark this 300th anniversary of formal medical teaching at the University of Edinburgh, we do more than just celebrate a date in a calendar; we recognise that, over three centuries, Scotland has shaped global medicine, informed scientific thought and trained generations of clinicians whose work has touched lives far beyond the borders of Scotland.
This milestone invites pride, absolutely, but it also invites honesty, reflection and a renewed sense of responsibility for the future. In 1726, when the faculty of medicine was formally established, the University of Edinburgh set in motion a model of medical education that blended rigorous scientific inquiry with clinical observation—a real first, although medical schools had existed in the Netherlands earlier. It brought the scientific principle to medicine. That approach helped to make our capital one of the leading centres during the enlightenment. It drew students from around the world—from Europe, North America and Asia—and influenced the creation of medical schools around the world.
The history that we commemorate in this year is not just a procession of success. As the organisers of the EMS 300 programme have emphasised, the anniversary compels us to recognise the struggles, the exclusions and the inequalities that sit alongside all of those achievements. One of the most powerful elements of that is the role of women in the story of Edinburgh medicine. I think of Heen Shamaz, a final-year student who, on the day that she passed—although she did not know it at the time—her final examinations, gave a lecture in old college, which is a strange building from which, for more than 200 years, women were excluded. She stood alongside distinguished colleagues Professor Lorna Marson and Dr Lesley Dawson, and they reflected on the long fight for equality in medical education.
They reminded us of the Edinburgh seven—Sophia Jex-Blake and her peers—who, in the 1870s, were accepted into medical school only to face harassment, violent obstruction and, ultimately, the denial of the right to graduate. Yet they persisted: they studied abroad when the University of Edinburgh would not grant them degrees. They laid foundations that their own country’s university would fully acknowledge only many decades later.
When Edinburgh medical school celebrated its 250th anniversary, the official catalogue singled out a
“galaxy of talented and famous men”.
There was no mention of the women whose perseverance had opened wider the doors to the profession. How fitting it is that the 300-year celebration deliberately gives prominence to those who had been written out of the story, from the Edinburgh seven to pioneers such as Gertrude Herzfeld, whose leadership helped establish paediatrics as its own discipline; to the present generation, represented by Dr Dawson, who is the first female secretary of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; and, most importantly, to today’s students, who are the most diverse in the school’s history.
The speakers’ message was not only about the past injustice. At the lecture, they spoke about imposter syndrome, about the subtle but persistent barriers that remain, and about the importance of mentorship and of representation, because, as Ms Shamaz so cleverly and succinctly put it:
“You can’t be what you can’t see.”
They reminded us that commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion are not an administrative duty but a clinical one, because the future of medicine is not about treating disease but about understanding people.
As we congratulate the university and all those who are involved in curating the diverse, thoughtful programme of events—from lectures to alumni reunions and public outreach activities—we also need to recognise Edinburgh medical school’s immense contribution to Scotland’s health, economy and reputation, because its graduates have shaped global surgery. They have pioneered diagnostics. They have advanced public health. They have helped guide health policy at home and abroad. For 300 years, the institution has stood at the intersection of learning, discovery and service. The spirit of collaboration, diversity and ingenuity is alive and well, and that has been a key part of EMS 300 celebrations. School of art students have produced an EMS 300 tartan. There are poems about the school’s history. Events have been put on by the medical school throughout the year.
The next generations of Charles Darwins, Wong Fung Chus and Sophia Jex-Blakes are already being moulded. They are the difference makers who will go on to save lives, push boundaries and break those boundaries. I invite the Parliament to join me in recognising the truly extraordinary legacy of Edinburgh medical school and in wishing its staff, its students and its alumni every success as its goes into its next 300 years.
We move to the open debate.
13:03
I thank Martin Whitfield for bringing the debate to the chamber, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the recognition of the 300th anniversary of formal medical teaching at the University of Edinburgh medical school.
Three centuries of medical education is an extraordinary milestone. Over that time, the school has built a reputation that stretches far beyond Scotland. Its graduates have helped to shape modern medicine, contributed to global research and improved the health of communities across the world. For Scotland, the impact has been profound. The medical school has played a central role in establishing Edinburgh as a global centre for medical research, innovation and education, which has helped to strengthen Scotland’s reputation as a leader in the life sciences sector.
The relationship between the university and NHS Lothian also demonstrates how important the partnership between education and front-line healthcare is. Many of the doctors, researchers and healthcare professionals who study in Edinburgh go on to serve communities across Lothian and beyond, including my constituency of East Lothian. That partnership helps to ensure that the knowledge and innovation that are developed in our universities translate directly into better care for patients.
Anniversaries such as this are an opportunity not only to celebrate the past but to reflect honestly on the journey that has brought us here and the responsibilities that we carry into the future. During women’s history month, it is particularly fitting to recognise the role of women in shaping the story of medical education in Edinburgh. As Martin Whitfield mentioned, in 1869, a group of pioneering women now known as the Edinburgh seven enrolled to study medicine at the university. Led by Sophia Jex-Blake, they were the first women in Britain to be admitted to a university medical programme. Their determination opened doors that had previously been closed but their journey was far from straightforward. They faced hostility and institutional resistance and were ultimately denied the degrees that they had worked hard to earn. It took almost 150 years before the University of Edinburgh formally recognised their achievements and awarded those degrees posthumously.
Their story reminds us that progress in medicine—and, indeed, in society—often comes because individuals challenge barriers and expand opportunity for those who follow. Today, women make up a majority of medical students across the United Kingdom and play leading roles in clinical practice, research and medical leadership. In that progress, they stand on the shoulders of those early pioneers.
As we mark this 300-year milestone, it is right that we celebrate the achievements of the University of Edinburgh’s medical school—its contribution to science, to innovation and to improving health in Scotland and around the world. The next chapter of medical education will be shaped by the challenges that we face today: supporting the workforce of NHS Scotland, responding to an ageing population and harnessing advances in technology and medical research. Institutions such as Edinburgh will continue to play a crucial role in training the next generation of clinicians, driving innovation and strengthening Scotland’s internationally recognised life sciences sector.
For those reasons, I am pleased to recognise this important anniversary and wish the staff, students and researchers of the University of Edinburgh every success as they shape the future of medical education and discovery in the centuries ahead.
13:06
As a University of Edinburgh alumna, I am pleased to speak in this debate to recognise 300 years of medicine being formally taught at the university and celebrate the profound legacy of its renowned medical school. I thank Martin Whitfield for bringing the topic to the chamber for debate.
Three centuries of medical scholarship is an extraordinary milestone. Established during the Scottish enlightenment in 1726, Edinburgh medical school quickly became one of the world’s leading centres of medical teaching and research, attracting students from across Europe and beyond. Its influence is global: graduates went on to found medical schools at Harvard University, Yale University, McGill University and the University of Sydney, among many others, which demonstrates the truly international reach of Edinburgh’s medical tradition.
For me, as a student between 1990 and 1995—I hate to give away my age—that sense of continuity was ever present. Walking into the category‑A‑listed Teviot Place medical school building—which was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson and built between 1876 and 1886 in the Italian renaissance style—was a reminder that we were entering a place shaped by generations of discovery.
My studies included forensic medicine for lawyers, which was taught by Professor Busuttil, whose meticulous approach to medico‑legal evidence left a lasting impression. They also included medical microbiology, where the classes, lab work and tutorials made even the smallest organisms fascinating. However, members should still not ask me about Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
All those courses were delivered in the iconic square tower, which made them even more memorable. I still remember the sense of vertigo in the lecture hall where I had my forensic medicine classes, which is where anatomy lectures used to take place many decades ago—perhaps I will make some remarks about Burke and Hare later on. Those courses exemplified Edinburgh’s unique ability to blend scientific rigour, clinical relevance and interdisciplinary thinking.
As we mark 300 years, this anniversary gives us not only a reason to celebrate but an opportunity to reflect honestly on the past. We have not only exceptional achievement in our history but some challenging periods, such as the infamous Burke and Hare murders of 1828, which were driven by the intense demand for cadavers during the city’s rise as a global centre of anatomical teaching. Confronting the whole of that history is vital to understanding the evolution of medical ethics and the responsibility that accompanies scientific advancement.
The university’s medical story has always been intertwined with Scotland’s healthcare system. From the founding of the royal infirmary in 1729 as one of the earliest teaching hospitals in the UK to the post-war development of the national health service, Edinburgh’s clinicians and researchers played central roles in shaping public health and clinical practice. That legacy continues today through world-class research at sites including the royal infirmary and the Western general, which remain key teaching centres for the medical school, although the medical school has moved out of the city centre to Little France.
The programme marking Edinburgh medical school 300 embraces that heritage while looking ahead. It features a series of lectures, exhibitions, interactive digital timelines and historical explorations that uncover newly documented stories from the school’s past. At the same time, cutting-edge research is still going on across life sciences, digital health, innovation and clinical medicine, reflecting the institution’s on-going contributions to global scientific progress. Community engagement is also central to the anniversary programme. Public events and festival-related activities give residents and visitors an opportunity to explore Edinburgh’s medical heritage and understand the medical school’s continuing economic and societal contribution.
Edinburgh medical school’s impact over the past 300 years cannot be overstated. It has shaped modern medicine, contributed profoundly to global scientific knowledge and continues to train the clinicians, researchers and innovators on whom the future of healthcare will depend.
I congratulate the organisers of Edinburgh medical school 300 for curating such a rich and forward-looking programme, and I wish all the staff, students and alumni every success as they celebrate that significant milestone.
13:11
I am pleased to speak in today’s debate, and I thank Martin Whitfield for bringing it to the chamber.
I am immensely proud of the achievements of the University of Edinburgh. Our city has long been at the heart of public health, and, over the past 300 years, the medical school has produced extraordinary scientific work and world-leading research. Students from across the world have come to Edinburgh to study medicine and have then gone on to make significant contributions in countries far beyond our own. The university’s commitment to ensuring that local communities also feel the tangible positive impact of the 300-year celebration of the faculty of medicine is hugely worth celebrating; the global partnerships that have been built by the medical school are inspiring; and the work that is being carried out right across the world by its alumni reflects the exceptional standards of education and the lasting relationship that is formed between students and their lecturers.
Edinburgh offers a wide range of sectors and opportunities for those who study medicine, extending far beyond clinical practice. Many alumni have gone on to create new innovations, launch businesses and shape entirely new fields in medicine. The discoveries and achievements of the medical school are remarkable. Its alumni have made a profound difference not just in Scotland but, as several of us have said, across the UK and the world.
As we celebrate that progress, we must also acknowledge that many people still struggle to access the care and support that they need. I also want to highlight the important economic benefits that are brought by the international community that chooses to study and work here, contributing to growth across Scotland. I also cannot speak about the University of Edinburgh without highlighting the massive financial challenges that the university and its staff are facing.
However, to go back to being positive, throughout the anniversary year, a wide range of events will showcase the school’s achievements, including the Edinburgh tartan parade, the Everywoman festival, an alumni weekend and many more. Those events will enable lots of different people to attend—we can all attend, and we should.
Like colleagues, I think that, as we celebrate 300 years of Edinburgh medical school, it is vital to recognise the women whose contributions have shaped medicine in Scotland and far beyond. As part of the anniversary celebrations, a special programme was brought together featuring Professor Lorna Marson, Dr Lesley Dawson and, as Martin Whitfield mentioned, final-year medical student Heen Shamaz to honour the women of Edinburgh medicine. Their discussion highlighted both the historical barriers that women faced and the extraordinary achievements that they went on to deliver. The university’s 300 faces of Edinburgh medical school project has also been instrumental in bringing forward lesser-known stories of women who contributed to that medical progress.
The Edinburgh seven have already been mentioned. They were the first women in Britain to matriculate at a university, and their struggle to gain access to medical education paved the way for generations of women who followed. It was a major achievement. The Herald has highlighted that women spent a century fighting to get into medicine, and that the Edinburgh seven—the first female medical students admitted to a university—were among the trailblazers. They were led by Sophia Jex-Blake. She applied to study and the medical faculty accepted her application, but the university court blocked it. That was challenged. She published that rejection in newspapers and got six more women to apply: Mary Anderson, Emily Bovell, Matilda Chaplin, Helen Evans, Edith Pechey and Isabel Thorne. They worked together as a group and were accepted. I wanted to put their names on the record.
Today, women continue to shape the future of Edinburgh medical school. As Martin Whitfield said, women such as Heen Shamaz represent the next generation of clinicians and researchers, and symbolise the continuity of progress and the growing leadership of women in the field. Progress in medicine is not just about science; it is about who we are and our society. The inclusion, recognition and advancement of women has strengthened the profession and enriched the university’s global impact. That is woven into the fabric of Edinburgh’s medical heritage and will continue to guide its future. That is truly inspiring, and it is an important history for us to celebrate today.
13:16
I, too, pay tribute to Martin Whitfield for bringing this excellent motion to the chamber, and I commend all colleagues for their excellent and thoughtful speeches.
As the Minister for Higher and Further Education, and as an Edinburgh constituency MSP, it is a real privilege and a pleasure for me to close this debate marking three centuries of formal medical teaching at the University of Edinburgh—an anniversary that invites us to celebrate and reflect.
In 1726, amidst the intellectual ferment of the Scottish enlightenment, Edinburgh established a faculty of medicine whose influence has radiated across Scotland and around the world through the years since. I declare an interest not just as a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, but because it was the pull of the medical school’s expertise that brought my mother to Edinburgh from England to study medicine and then contribute to our national health service as a doctor for more than 30 years.
It is that excellence that we celebrate today, as well as the history. From the outset, Edinburgh set a standard for vigorous, anatomically grounded education, embodied in the Monro dynasty of anatomy professors, whose 126-year stewardship helped to define the modern medical curriculum and placed our capital city at the forefront of clinical teaching.
Members have talked about the many people who have gone through the medical school, and the roll call of figures associated with it is extraordinary. Sir James Young Simpson pioneered the clinical use of chloroform, transforming obstetrics and surgery and, in time, everyday medical practice, changing the administration of pain management forever. Joseph Lister, the regius professor of clinical surgery, applied germ theory to the operating theatre and ushered in antisepsis, carbolic hand washing, sterilisation of instruments and cleaner air during surgery, dramatically cutting the number of post-operative deaths and laying the foundations for the safe surgery that we have today.
As has been rightly emphasised by others, Edinburgh’s story is also one of courage and inclusion, sometimes hard won. Sophia Jex-Blake and the Edinburgh seven have been spoken about already, and their influence was profound. In 1869, they became the first women to matriculate at a British university, facing hostility, a notorious riot and, wrongly, exclusion from qualification for degrees. Their struggle catalysed change and opened the path for women to equality and to the practice of medicine in Scotland, which had a catalytic effect elsewhere.
The school’s wider scholarly reach has shaped science far beyond the wards, from Charles Darwin’s formative student years to the generations of clinicians and scientists who went on to lead in public health, surgery, pharmacology and beyond. When I previously served as the Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, I saw how the school is helping to make an impact way beyond Scotland’s borders and our shores.
Today, that tradition is alive in a modern, globally orientated medical school. Edinburgh’s six-year bachelor of medicine and surgery programme—the only programme of its kind in Scotland—integrates a full research year and graduates doctors with the degrees of bachelor of medical sciences and bachelor of medicine and surgery. It embeds clinical experience from the early years across Lothian and the south of Scotland.
Together, as we celebrate this remarkable anniversary, it is also a chance to reflect on the opportunities ahead. Edinburgh medical school is setting out an ambitious future. Through its emerging future medicine programme and plans for a new Scottish health and biomedical institute, the school aims to bring together world-leading research, clinical expertise and innovation to tackle chronic disease. It also aims to strengthen cancer research and attract global talent and investment.
That work sits within the college’s wider one health vision, which recognises that human, animal and planetary wellbeing are deeply connected and reflects the determination not just to honour 300 years of history but to shape the next century of medical discovery and education in Scotland and beyond.
Sarah Boyack understandably raised the issue of financial pressures in the higher education sector. The Government is aware of those pressures and is being proactive in trying to work with our universities in relation to that challenge. That is why we have set up the framework for sustainability and success with our university sector.
In that context, it is important to recognise that the Scottish Government has been proud to support the momentum of our medical colleges and resource them. There has been a 67 per cent increase in medical undergraduate intake places since 2016, and there is a commitment to widening access to study for a career in medicine.
In 2018, the first cohort of students began the HCP-Med programme at the University of Edinburgh. That is an innovative graduate entry course that provides the opportunity to existing healthcare professionals from Scotland to achieve a medical degree. That is the sort of upskilling that we will need to do more of as we move forward into this challenging century.
We have a world-leading higher education sector to be proud of, and the Scottish Government values greatly the contribution that medical schools make to our society. They deliver first-rate doctors to support the NHS and so much more, including the economic impact that other members have talked about. We continue to recognise and value the world-leading teaching, research, innovation and knowledge exchange that are delivered through our universities and the high esteem in which they are rightly held internationally because of their legacy and because of what they do now.
On behalf of the Scottish Government, I offer congratulations to everyone involved—to the staff, students, alumni and partners who have shaped three centuries of medicine in Edinburgh, to those whose names are celebrated and to the many more whose quiet work in clinics, labs, classrooms and hospitals saves and improves lives every day. I thank them for all that they have done to build the legacy of the University of Edinburgh medical school, for all that has gone into preparing and undertaking the celebrations this year and for everything that will be done in the future to ensure that the school keeps making a profound impact in Scotland and internationally.
For the sake of transparency, I acknowledge my own status as an alumnus of Edinburgh university. With that said, I suspend the meeting until 2 o’clock.
13:24
Meeting suspended.
14:00
On resuming—
Air ais
Point of OrderAir adhart
Portfolio Question Time