[Teaching department of the Polish Paderewski Hospital in Edinburgh]

An agreement was concluded on 24.02.1941 between the University of Edinburgh and the Polish Government in Exile in London that brought into being the Polish School of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. The School was intended for soldier-students in the Polish Forces in Gr. Britain. This agreement was meant for the time of war. With the end of the war a number of medical student-soldiers liberated from the German prisoner of war camps, applied to the Polish Medical School at the University of Edinburgh. In accord with the agreement the University discontinued the official admission of new students to the Polish School in Edinburgh. The students, numbering 37, who could not be admitted as regular students, were given facilities by Professor Jurasz, the Dean of the Polish School, to carry on their studies at the Polish Paderewski Hospital in Edinburgh (at the Western General Hospital). Thus there came into being two Schools: one regular, authorized Polish School of Medicine within the University, and the other, an unofficial School at the Paderewski Hospital, undertaking the teaching of students but with no power to grant a medical qualification. The teachers attached to the official Polish Medical School in Edinburg co-operated in the instruction of the students of the unofficial School. Nearly 20 of the 4th and 5th year students finished their courses and passed their examinations. Each of them was given a certificate that he had concluded his medical studies and had passed all the examinations which were necessary in Poland to obtain a medical diploma. A number of those who obtained the certificate applied to the Conjoint Examining Board in London and succeeded in obtaining the diploma L.R.C.P. London and M.R.C.S. England, and the licence to practice from the General Medical Council. A few third year students studied and obtained the degree at the Universities of England, Ireland and Canada; and some returned to Poland. A few settled in the U.S.A. and in South America. The unofficial School was active for two years.