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NHS Hospitals Accused of Barring Private School Students from Medical Work Experience
16 Aug
Summary
- NHS trusts in London restrict work experience to local state schools
- King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Trust give priority to non-private school applicants
- Thousands of private school students, including those on bursaries, struggle to find placements
As of August 2025, a number of the UK's largest hospital trusts have implemented policies that effectively exclude private school students from accessing crucial NHS work experience opportunities. This controversial move has been met with strong criticism, with some accusing the NHS of discrimination and being "infected by Labour's vendetta against independent education".
The Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed that official work experience schemes at renowned London hospitals, including Barts and University College London Hospital (UCLH), are only open to local state schools. Meanwhile, King's College Hospital Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Trust both state that they give "priority to those not attending a private school" for their placements.
This has left thousands of private school students, including those on bursaries, struggling to find work experience at key NHS institutions. One aspiring medical student from Emanuel School in south London was even told by their local King's College Hospital Trust that private school pupils were not admitted to their programs.
Experts warn that missing out on this vital clinical experience can put private school students at a significant disadvantage when applying to study medicine, as the British Medical Association strongly advises that such placements are essential to even be considered for a medical degree.
