NHS Fife has officially been formally granted University Health Board status, recognising our outstanding commitment to education, research and innovation, and acknowledging our mutually benefical partnership with the University of St Andrews.
The Health Board, will now be known as 'NHS Fife University Health Board’, having been officially granted University Health Board status by the Scottish Parliament in July 2025.
LtoR Professor Chris McKenna, NHS Fife Medical Director, Carol Potter, NHS Fife Chief Executive, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews, Professor Deborah Williamson, Dean of Medicine, University of St Andrews
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 followed the Scottish Parliament’s decision to end a historic prohibition that had prevented University of St Andrews from awarding its own medical qualifications. This allowed the development of a new five-year medical degree programme which enables students studying medicine at Scotland’s top university to undertake all of their clinical training and complete their primary medical qualification in Fife.
The formal partnership between the two organisations has already brought many 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.
Holding University Health Board status means that a representative of the University of St Andrews will become a member of our Fife NHS Board. This development will also signal the expansion of medical training and cutting-edge research in NHS Fife and play a greater role in addressing regional and national health challenges, helping to improve outcomes for patients in Fife and much further afield.
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.
Medical Director, NHS Fife, Professor Christopher McKenna also points out that such recognition recognises the incredible work of our clinical teams and academic partners who are committed to delivering high quality patient care while training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
He looks forward to NHS Fife University Health Board's deeper research capabilities, expanded opportunities for clinical training and welcoming new and experienced medical professionals to Fife and to our hospitals.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP has also congratulated us in joining the list of prescribed Boards, saying
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.
