A new doctor training facility is opened in Sydney's west

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the faculty, at the University of Western Sydney Campbelltown campus, would produce "home-grown doctors to meet home-grown needs".

The $47.5 million school had its first intake of students in 2007, and 120 students are enrolled for 2009.

Gillard said it would address a chronic shortage of doctors in western Sydney, which she attributed to the former coalition government cutting GP training numbers in 1996.

"It takes a long time to make a doctor, so those cutbacks in 1996 are showing in communities across the country now, and they are showing in Sydney's west," she said on Monday at the opening.

The UWS School Of Medicine building has been short-listed for the 2008 World Building of the Year Award after taking out the National Professional Excellence in Building Award.

During a tour of the building Gillard had her blood pressure taken by a medical student in front of watching media.

She returned a normal reading of 125/70 in front of watching media.

"That was good. Who said the media makes you nervous, it's not true," she said.