Extra places on medical and dentistry courses for 2021

“Over 9,000 places” isn’t actually an increase

https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/funding-for-providers/health-education-funding/medical-and-dental-intakes/

I think the actual news is:
For this academic year, universities that can accommodate an increase to medical and dentistry places for students that have met the grades and hold a firm offer at a university with pressure on places will be supported to do so. For these universities that can take on more students that have met the grades whilst also ensuring teaching, learning and assessments standards are maintained, there will be flexibility to add to their numbers.

Basically confirming that universities who have offered out too many places and have only now realised that they're expanding beyond their permitted numbers will be let off the hook this year.

I think the actual news is:
For this academic year, universities that can accommodate an increase to medical and dentistry places for students that have met the grades and hold a firm offer at a university with pressure on places will be supported to do so. For these universities that can take on more students that have met the grades whilst also ensuring teaching, learning and assessments standards are maintained, there will be flexibility to add to their numbers.

Basically confirming that universities who have offered out too many places and have only now realised that they're expanding beyond their permitted numbers will be let off the hook this year.

only panicked to increase them days before the results came out.

But there will only be so many clinical placements available in 2/3 years, and only so many preregistration jobs in 5/6 years. It isn't just a matter of seats in the lecture hall (or slots on Zoom).

Government panicking and making very late announcements is surely not news by now.

Oh I agree, universities will have a tough time accommodating extra numbers if their cohort increases by a lot. However, if you're a Med school and you've given out 200 offers for 100 spaces, and in a normal year would have 120 offer holders miss out or go elsewhere; what happens if you actually get 150 offer holders meeting all their conditions due to unprecedented grade inflation? Your marketing department won't let you reject applicants who've met their offer conditions because of the shitstorm it could cause on PR (never mind the fuss from UCAS).

Even in England alone - the intake in 2020 was 9,285. So they CUT the caps to below 9k for 2021 and have panicked into raising them to 2020 levels because they’re worried about the PR of universities rejecting or deferring med places during a pandemic.

There is a degree of flexibility in the FY system. Usually leftovers go to international students. I guess there will just be no leftovers and a little cramming to fit some additional students in.
All in all, there aren't THAT many more medics in training.

Well, there were a thousand extra people starting med school last year, I think? That is an 11% increase. And if it is turns into 2000 extra this year? That is about 20%. Is there that much flex in the system? And what about Consultant jobs? Many of the international juniors go back after training, but the UK grads may want to stay here.
It may be that there are enough jobs out there, but competition levels are going to go up considerably and training will become an even more soul-sapping experience.
Plus, what are they going to do for the next few years? As the Government made it clear they did not want to pay for extra places this year, so if they do cut back for approx 11K to 9K places, what happens to that 2 year cohort in the future? As nobody is going to increase training programme places if it is just for 2 years......

Fair point. How many of these students will pass their degree though given the inaccuracy of grading? That will somewhat mitigate the increase.

I've seen many students who deserve a set of B/Cs be awarded straight A's and above.

I do wonder how many students may drop out anyway?
Will we see the Medicine drop-out rate increasing?

Certainly more likely if they are struggling academically, I'd have thought. But as I say, I do not feel this is a good way of controlling numbers (though they do it in Europe), as it leaves people with financial debt and psychological scars

Oh yeah I agree, it shouldn't be forced. But I do wonder if universities should make some preparation for how to support students who are in that position, have places on likely alternative courses rather than simply drop off the list and vanish.