Progress on Magee medical school '˜welcome news'

Progress on a new medical school for Derry has been welcomed by Sinn Fein representatives following a meeting with local health bosses.

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney and his party colleague Maeve McLaughlin (pictured) held talks with members of the Western Health & Social Care Trust in relation to a medical school for Derry and the wider North West region.

Speaking afterwards yesterday, Mr McCartney said: “We welcome the news that there is progression in terms of provision for a Medical School and that the University have a steering group to take this forward.

“This will be important in terms of University expansion and in bringing down the cost of locums, which was £16m this year.

“Derry is ideally placed for a Graduate Entry Medical School as we have a state of the art hospital, including the new cancer centre, on our doorstep in Altnagelvin.

“Magee also has already established a reputation for medical innovation through its relationship with C-TRIC and the opportunities presented with the roll out of the North West Health Innovation Corridor.”

Mr McCartney added: “There is a clear lack of doctors in the Western Trust area and across the North generally and a new medical school would help address that and reduce locum costs.”