NHS Fife celebrates University Health Board status

NHS Fife has officially become the first Health Board in more than 50 years to be formally granted University Health Board status, in partnership with the University of St Andrews, in recognition of its outstanding commitment to education, research, and innovation.

The Health Board, which will officially become ‘NHS Fife University Health Board’, was officially granted University Health Board status by the Scottish Parliament today (Monday 7 July).

This prestigious designation places NHS Fife among a select group of ‘prescribed health boards’, acknowledging the health board’s commitment to supporting academic excellence and its collaborative efforts to advance clinical research, improve treatments, and train the next generation of medical professionals.

The new status marks a significant milestone in a long-standing partnership between NHS Fife and the University of St Andrews, which was strengthened in March 2024 with the signing of a formal partnership between the two institutions.

The formal partnership follows the Scottish Parliament’s decision to end a historic prohibition that had prevented the University of St Andrews from awarding its own medical qualifications. This paved the way for a new five-year medical degree programme, enabling students at Scotland’s top university to complete their clinical training and earn their primary medical qualification entirely in Fife. The first cohort will begin the programme at St Andrews this September.

Achieving University Health Board status will also see a representative of the University of St Andrews become a member of the Fife NHS Board.

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

Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews, said: “Achieving University Health Board status marks a significant milestone in deepening our partnership with NHS Fife. 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.

“We look forward to welcoming the first cohort of our new five-year medical degree with NHS Fife in September.”

Carol Potter, Chief Executive, NHS Fife added: “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.

“This designation recognises our shared commitment to excellence in education, world-class research and innovation, and will enable us to play an even greater role in shaping the future of healthcare in Scotland. We are incredibly proud to be leading the way as the first Scottish health board in over half a century to receive this honour.”

Health Secretary 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.”

Professor Deborah Williamson,  Dean of Medicine at the University of St Andrews added: “As Dean of Medicine and a native of Fife, it is a privilege to mark this significant occasion. The designation of University Board status reflects the exceptional talent, dedication, and innovation that define healthcare in Fife. It also affirms the strength of the partnership between the University of St Andrews and NHS Fife, which unites academic excellence with clinical practice to serve the people of this region. Fife is a place of proud heritage and bold vision, and today’s recognition highlights its growing role in shaping the future of healthcare in Scotland and beyond.”

The formal partnership between the two organisations has already brought a raft of benefits to healthcare services across the Fife, enabling collaboration across a range of areas aimed of providing high quality patient care and enhancing the medical research which leads to better and more effective treatments.