UU’s Magee Campus in Derry
Ms McLaughlin called in November for the health minister to expand student numbers at Derry’s Magee Medical School in response to the worsening shortage of general practitioners locally.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I have received increasing numbers of complaints from constituents concerned about the difficulties in obtaining appointments with GPs, both at surgeries and out of hours.
“I passed on my concerns to the Western Trust when I met them last week.
“It is obvious that we need to increase the number of doctors that we are training.
“The medical profession was already under intense pressure prior to the pandemic, but Covid has led to a worsening backlog of demand, while Brexit has caused many doctors and nurses to leave the UK.
“Expanding the Magee Medical School would help to address these pressures, which I was why I asked health minister Robin Swann in November if he would do that.
“Sadly, the absence of an approved budget puts on hold any plans to reform and improve the health service.
“The DUP’s actions are irresponsible and very damaging to the health services and all other public services.”
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