MLAs rally behind theMagee medical school

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to highlight the vital importance of an adequately staffed health service MLAs have called for urgent progress on the local training facility.

SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin said she was ‘angry and frustrated’ more progress had not been made on the delivery of the school.

“Our city has been waiting far too long for the expansion of Magee – half a century, in fact. But it has also been waiting an absurdly long time for the Medical School to get the go-ahead. And this remains the case, even though the SDLP’s leader Colum Eastwood secured additional money from the UK government as part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

“It is time for the Department of Health, Department for the Economy and Department of Finance, and their ministers, to end this game of pass the parcel – or pass the blame – and make the decision to approve the Medical School and deliver it. The people of Derry have now run out of patience and we have all nearly run out of time to get this over the line.

“It is obvious that we need the Medical School in Derry. We have a chronic shortage of doctors in the North West. The establishment of the Medical School will help to put that right.

“Many people owe their lives to the work of medical professionals over recent weeks. But the truth is that we need more of them. Let us treat the medical profession with respect, by recognising their work and the risks they have taken, by paying them properly, by providing sufficient personal protection equipment for their needs and by training enough doctors and other health professionals to do the job that we expect them to do.

“So I say to the people of Derry, please come together and shout as loud as you can to tell the political leaders and senior civil servants of Northern Ireland that they must this time do the right thing and give the go-ahead for the Magee Medical School.”

She urged people to lobby politicians and call for urgent progress by haring social media posts, using the hashtag #MedicalSchoolforDerry.

Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has also demanded urgent progress on the expansion of Magee.

“The Inclusive Future Fund for Derry was announced last May. Combined with the City Deal and Executive match-funding, this would represent a game changing £210 million investment package that delivers economic regeneration and the much-needed medical school and expansion of Magee university.

“This is even more urgent at a time of a global pandemic when retired NHS staff are being asked to return to work. A medical school in Derry will provide the much-needed NHS heroes of the future and, crucially, they will be trained and retained where they are needed. The opportunity currently available to address regional imbalance and deliver tangible benefits across the community in the Derry and Strabane area should be embraced urgently and enthusiastically by all parties.”