Health Secretary John Reid said the students of the first medical school in Sussex would become the lifeblood of the NHS as he performed the official opening.

Dr Reid said thousands more GPs and nursing staff were needed to help cope with increasing demands but investments such as the new Brighton and Sussex Medical School were a step in the right direction.

He said: "More GP posts are being created to meet that demand. There are more doctors in training now than ever but more are still needed.

"This in turn will give GPs the chance to specialise in areas they are interested in and meet the needs of patients."

Yesterday's opening ceremony was attended by medical school students, members of faculty, NHS trust bosses, MPs and council officials.

Dr Reid said: "The number of student doctors has risen by a record 50 per cent since 1997.

"This new generation of doctors is the lifeblood of the NHS and will mean more patients will have to wait less time to be seen."

Students said they were looking forward to the course but were uncertain whether they wanted to be GPs.

Elliott Ruff, 18, from Worcester, said he was considering a career in surgery. He said: "At the moment I am not interested in becoming a GP but there is a long way to go and I may change my mind."

Natalie Alexander, 19, originally from London, is interested in a possible career in general practice but her main focus is on helping to support children.

She said: "I want to combine my interest in this area with what I learn through medical training and we will see where that takes me."

Brighton and Hove is believed to be short of about ten to 15 GPs, which means those already based in the city have to take on the workload.

The school is a joint venture between the universities of Brighton and Sussex and is supported by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath will be the main teaching hospitals but students will also be working in GP practices and with mental health services across the county.