Medical school hits back at criticism

St George's Hospital Medical School, London, hit back at criticisms this week that four-year graduate-entry medical degrees were lowering standards. Two eminent surgeons on the Today programme criticised the teaching of anatomy on the courses.

Peter McCrorie, director of the school's graduate entry programme, said:

"The criticisms failed to recognise that anatomy is no longer taught as it was. Our graduate-entry students have done better than students on traditional courses in their first and second-year exams and, interestingly, arts graduates have particularly excelled."

St George's is one of ten medical schools offering or planning graduate-entry programmes.