Long-awaited graduate medical school opens its doors

By Q Radio News

A long-awaited medical school has opened its doors for the first time at Ulster University's Magee campus in Derry/Londonderry this morning. 

Today 70 post-graduate students will begin their training as doctors as they begin working towards their four-year medical qualification.

The multi-million pound school has faced a number of delays and funding problems over the past number of years. 

It's hoped the new site will help address shortages of doctors in Northern Ireland. 

A long-awaited medical school has opened its doors for the first time at Ulster University's Magee campus in Derry/Londonderry this morninghttps://t.co/ig61Zn3CI3

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) August 23, 2021

Professor Carol Curran, executive dean at the University said: “Today is just a red letter day for the university. It starts a new chapter in our history so I’m hugely excited.

“We have 70 students starting today and we have an aspiration to grow those numbers.

“The reported shortage of doctors has been well documented across the region especially in the north west.

“It’s our hope with graduate entry medical school that students when they’re finished will decide to locate in and around this region  - therefore addressing that shortage.”

Professor Carol Curran speaking to Q Radio

SDLP Colum Eastwood MP welcomed the official opening of the Graduate Entry Medical School at Magee today. 

The Foyle MP thanked those who had made the school opening possible but repeated his call to expand university provision in the North West to 10,000 places. 

He said: “This is a positive day for Derry. After a long fight, we are finally opening the doors of our Medical School which will give young people from the North West the opportunity to study, live and set down roots in our communities. This school will, I hope, also allow us to fortify health provision here with a good supply of well educated doctors keen to serve in the local area. 

“The SDLP made the delivery of the medical school a priority during the negotiations that led to the restoration of powersharing and we also secured additional funding from the British Government to make it happen. I want to thank the staff at Ulster University who have worked hard to get us to this point today and also former Secretary of State Julian Smith who stuck by his word during our talks. 

“While this is a positive development for the city, it’s only one part of the promise that was made to people. NDNA contains a clear commitment to deliver a 10,000 student campus in Derry. That is now the floor of our expectations, nothing less will do.” 

Meanwhile new medical student Seamus Flynn said it was lovely to finally meet his fellow students at last.

He said they were all “equally as nervous and as excited”

He added: “For the vast majority of us its been a really long journey and to finally get here is fantastic.

“It was long and there were times when I thought ‘would it finally come?’. And to be here in the morning and to physically see everyone - it’s fantastic.”

Both the First and Deputy First Minister have welcomed today's announcement.

First Minister Paul Givan said: “I am pleased to be here to mark this historic occasion, as we open Ulster University School of Medicine and see this project come to fruition. It is a momentous day not just for Londonderry but for all of Northern Ireland.

“I commend the enormous amount of work which has taken place up until now, with tremendous effort from partners across government, academia, medicine and beyond. I hope everyone can take a sense of pride in what has been achieved. As our involvement ends, we hand this facility over to the students. It is they who are the most important part of this celebration.

“I wish every success to those beginning the next stage of their educational journey in medicine today - and the many future classes who will come through these doors in the years ahead.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The opening of Ulster University School of Medicine is a landmark announcement for Derry and the North West. The School of Medicine improves significantly the educational offering in Magee that will attract students from far and wide. It will create significant and long term economic benefits for the region as well as benefiting the wider health service.

“I commend all those who have worked to help secure this transformative investment and I wish all the new graduate entrants the very best with their studies and future careers.

“The Executive is committed to the regeneration of the North West, and we remain focussed on bringing about prosperity for all the people of the area. As a key part of the £250 million Derry and Strabane Region City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund package, this is a significant step forward on that journey.

“In opening the Ulster University School of Medicine we fulfil an Executive commitment and a key part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. But this success only serves to fuel our future ambition as we continue working to address the regional imbalance and fulfil the huge potential of the area.”

(Pictured at the opening of the School of Medicine at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry~Londonderry today are (front row l-r): Professor Carol Curran Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Health Minister Robin Swann, Finance Minister Conor Murphy, First Minister Paul Givan, Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew, Professor Louise Dubras, Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine, (back row l-r): students: Katie, Roland, Seamus, Michael, Aoife and Nicola.)