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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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Special Council meeting on Racecourse Medical.
The appointment of new GP contractors in Racecourse Medical and Bridge Medical is to be discussed at a Special Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Racecourse Medical Group handed back its contract for the delivery of services to the Department of Health in December 2022 and Bridge Street Family Practice did the same in February 2023.
The Special meeting is scheduled to take place later today (Monday), between Derry City and Strabane District councillors and members of the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, which plans and oversees the delivery of health and social care services for the population of the North.
Speaking to Derry Now ahead of the Special Meeting, Cllr Emmet Doyle (Aontú) said he had continually raised concerns that the Department of Health required a strategy to address the need for new GP contractors in Racecourse medical and Bridge Medical.
The Ballyarnett councillor added: "I have been in contact with the Department of Health constantly since news emerged that Racecourse Medical had handed back their general medical services contract (GMS) contract in recent months.
“A public advertisement was published and then extended for a new contractor and I have been seeking answers as to if any applicants have come forward, to no avail.
“I had arranged at the time for members of the Strategic Planning and Performance Group who are responsible for such contracts within the Health Department, to come to Council so we could get a better picture of the situation and what strategy has been put in place.
“With Bridge Street now also having handed back their contract, the 'domino effect' I warned about is now unfortunately coming to fruition. If we continue to see inertia from the Department then more surgeries will be affected and more patients will find it difficult to access a GP. That cannot happen. I will continue to push for a dedicated plan by the Department not just to address these issues but to preempt them and safeguard GP services in the city,” said Cllr Doyle.
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