Department of Health must ensure Derry GP Services are protected

Derry and Strabane Council will hold a special meeting at 4.00pm today with Department of Health representatives from the Strategic Planning and Performance Group to discuss the future of GP services at Shantallow Medical Centre and Bridge Street. 

Ahead of the meeting People Before Profit Cllr Maeve O'Neill said: "The future of GP services in Derry and elsewhere is uncertain. 

"There's understandably tremendous concern about access to GP services. People in local areas have made very clear the need for Shantallow and Bridge Street GP services to remain open. 

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"The DOH must work with the Western Trust to ensure this happens. The Council has a duty to make sure residents are protected. 

"People Before Profit will continue to amplify the concerns of residents, workers and patients."

Councillor O'Neill continued: "All of the Stormont Executive parties have undermined the health service by voting to slash workers pay, outsource services, facilitate the privatisation of care homes and by running down GP services. The Derry Save Our NHS campaign has been launched to push back on this.

"At the weekend we seen thousands marching in London to Save the NHS. We need the same type of people power mobilisations here to support striking healthcare workers and to challenge what's been done to our health service.

"This will be up to trade unions, community organisations, local residents and the many groups oriented on health provision to demand the health service, including GP services, is fixed and protected into the future."