A £2.7m expansion of Southampton University's school of medicine is on the cards.

Improvement plans to accommodate a further 40 students each year are being considered by Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Outline proposals for the development have already been approved but the final financial arrangements are still being reviewed.

If the project is given the go-ahead, work will start on expanding the South Academic Block at Southampton General Hospital in August and is hoped to be completed by July 2004, meaning the first extra students can join in September 2004.

A bid for funding was made by the school of medicine and has already been approved by the joint Higher education Funding Council of England and the Department of Health implementation group.

It would take the number of students from 200 to 240.

Project director Keith Dowell said: "Among other things the implementation of the NHS Plan depends on a healthcare workforce that is fit for purpose and highly skilled in inter-professional working and teamwork.

"An increase in the education and training provisions will be needed to achieve this workforce.

"An expansion of the numbers of undergraduate medical students is an integral part of this."