A MULTI-million pound training centre for student doctors might be built in the region.

The £3.2m centre at York Hospital would provide mock wards where trainees can practise medical procedures on mannequins.

Health chiefs hope that the learning centre will attract more high-quality staff and students to the city, as the trust continues to increase its medical workforce over the next four years.

The funding is already in place for the planned centre, a partnership between the York NHS Trust and Hull York Medical School, which will also be used by experienced hospital staff during training updates.

But if a further £3.2m can be secured, a postgraduate centre, including specialised library, will also be built.

The unit will also include a centre for the North Yorkshire Research and Development Alliance, which co-ordinates all medical research taking place in the county.

The trust has submitted a planning application to City of York Council to build a 15,000sq ft first-floor flat-roof extension over the existing renal unit, kitchen and restaurant.

Consultant physician Jonathan Thow said: "It's a facility that will have a much bigger impact on local health care standards than people might at first think. We are training our own doctors to a high level and they will hopefully go on to work in the local community.

"Having this kind of facility also attracts people to work here. There are close links with the research unit which increases research in this patch, which again brings in a high-quality workforce. If everything goes to plan, this will be one of the best integrated units around."

If the plans are approved by the council, the building work for the undergraduate centre is expected to be completed by next August.