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Most trainee doctors at Magee taking up jobs in NI

Keiron Tourish & Mike McBride
BBC News NI
BBC A woman is standing front of Magee University. She has blonde hair, and is wearing blue doctors overalls, she is also wearing a necklace. Behind her are two tree trunks with overhanging green leaves. In the background is the Magee campus building, someone is sitting outside on a bench, they are also wearing blue overalls. BBC
Aoife O'Donnell is one of the students at the Medical School in Londonderry who are set to graduate in June

The majority of the first cohort of graduates at Ulster University's medical school in Londonderry have been offered roles as doctors in Northern Ireland, according to the foundation dean of the school.

Prof Louise Dubras said that the majority of the 69 students set to graduate in June had already been offered positions in Northern Ireland.

The school on the university's Derry campus, formerly known as Magee, opened in 2021 after several delays and concerns over sustainable funding.

It was hoped the school's opening in the city would eventually help to address a relative shortage of doctors in Northern Ireland.

"We are seeing over 80 per cent of students taking up their first jobs in Northern Ireland in their foundation programme," Prof Dubras told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today.

"We have seen a high uptake of those posts, but what they do thereafter I am not too sure.

"I don't mind if they go away for a while and then come back. We need people to gain experience elsewhere and then bring that learning and expertise back to the region."

A large yellow and blue sign can be seen reading: 'Ulster University Northland Road Entrance' near a large tree. A red brick building can also be seen in the background.
The graduate medical school is located at Ulster University's Londonderry campus, formerly called Magee

The graduate medical school in Derry offers a four-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree programme.

The first cohort of students in the graduate-entry course came from a wide range of related and non-scientific or healthcare backgrounds.

Before it opened, the only medical school in Northern Ireland had been at Queen's University Belfast (QUB).

It admits about 270 medical students each year, with the majority of places funded directly by the Department of Health.

'Come back here to Derry'

Aoife O'Donnell, who is from Letterkenny in County Donegal, said she is very excited to be graduating after years of hard work.

"From my optician background, I'm going to stick with the eyes," she explained.

"I got an ophthalmology job at the Royal [Victoria Hospital in Belfast] in my second year, and I was very lucky.

"I'm hoping then to go into a training scheme and train up to be a consultant, and then come back here to Derry.

"There's no paediatric eye consultant here in Derry, and that's really what my dream is, to fill that spot so children don't have to travel to get the eye care that they need."

A woman is standing in front of the Magee campus. She has blonde hair and is wearing blue overalls. Behind her on the right is a brown tree trunk with green leaves overhanging her head. Behind her there is grass and more trees. The section of Magee campus behind her is made from glass and light coloured bricks.
Ellen McCauley, from Derry, is one of the medical students who graduate in the summer

Ellen McCauley is from Derry and said that, for her, studying to become a doctor was all about wanting to give something back to her local community.

"I think it's so important to be able to work in the local hospitals and see the local people," she said.

"I think, being from here, I feel very strongly about it and about being able to connect with people."

A man is standing in front of a number of brick buildings with white windows at Magee in Derry. He has black hair and is wearing blue overalls. Behind him is a wooden bench and two separate collections of shrubs. There is also a parked grey car and two black bollards.
Roland Pecson is from Australia and says he has loved his time studying in the Maiden City

Roland Pecson is from Australia and said he has thoroughly enjoyed his time studying at Ulster University.

"My training here has been a very unique experience, especially at this new medical school," he said.

"I understand the challenges here in the NHS, and I've become accustomed to working in the different hospitals here, so I'm very open to the idea of staying in the future but we'll see where things go."

A woman with shoulder length fair hair is looking toward the camera. She is wearing a brown and white floral patterned top and necklace. The background is a large building, with a sign reading: 'Ulster University School of Medicine'
Prof Louise Dubras is the foundation dean of the school of medicine

Prof Dubras was appointed by Ulster University in May 2018 as professor and foundation dean of the School of Medicine.

She announced her plans to retire last year following the upcoming graduation ceremony in June.

"I feel immense pride, and it's not personal pride, but pride in what we have achieved collectively," Prof Dubras told BBC News NI.

"It's about so many people - not just here within the team in the school, but across this whole region.

"People like the doctors, GPs, and other health professionals who have helped support our medical students in their learning."