UU Health Sciences School coming to Magee is ‘wonderful news’ - Colr. Ferguson

Derry & Strabane Alliance Councillor Rachael Ferguson said confirmation that the Allied Health Sciences School is coming to UU Magee “is wonderful news for Derry and the West”
2019: Alliance Party leader and MEP Naomi Long and Councillor Rachael Ferguson (centre, front row) pictured with staff from Thornhill College following a Q&A session. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)2019: Alliance Party leader and MEP Naomi Long and Councillor Rachael Ferguson (centre, front row) pictured with staff from Thornhill College following a Q&A session. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)
2019: Alliance Party leader and MEP Naomi Long and Councillor Rachael Ferguson (centre, front row) pictured with staff from Thornhill College following a Q&A session. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Rachael Ferguson was among those lobbying for the courses to come to the city and previously spoke to the Journal about how this would involve training hundreds of undergraduates in highly skilled medical science courses leading to careers as radiographers, dieticians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists among others.

At the time it had been suggested that around up to 500 undergraduates could be transferred to Magee, but Ulster University have now confirmed today that over 800 student places will be relocated from Jordanstown following a public consultation exercise.

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Colr. Ferguson said: “The Alliance Party members have been waiting for this news since the public consultation ended.

“This new combination of Medical School and Allied Health Sciences is good for Northern Ireland and it’s good for Ulster University at Magee - 800 additional places from Sept 2022, building towards the 10,000 student target for the campus.

“This raises the skills training available in the North West. And it strengthens the medical infrastructure in the West - where staff recruitment has been a problem.

“Hopefully it will also strengthen the research environment for C-TRIC at Altnagelvin and help Derry to become a significant medical hub”.

“A good day all round!”, concluded Cllr Ferguson.

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