A Limavady GP practice has performed more than 300 routine vasectomy procedures in the past year, highlighting a shift toward community‑based male sterilisation. The practice, Bovally Medical Centre, accounted for 327 procedures in the last year and an additional 178 in the first six months of 2026/27.
Across the regional Primary Care Vasectomy Service, 1,352 non‑scalpel vasectomy procedures were carried out and 1,418 patients were seen, a rise from about 600 patients treated in primary care two years earlier. These figures show a substantial increase in access to planned care outside hospital settings.
Health Minister Robbie Butler noted during his visit that patients can now receive the care they need closer to home, avoiding long hospital waitlists. He praised Dr Joe Devlin and the local GP teams for demonstrating how the neighbourhood model can improve access and reduce pressure on hospital services.
Source: www.derrynow.com
