St Davids GP signs off after 30 years (From Western Telegraph)

St Davids GP signs off after 30 years

3:50pm Sunday 20th May 2012 in County News

A St Davids GP has hung up her stethoscope for the final time, having been a family doctor in the area for more than 30 years.

Dr Sara Hamilton started at the surgery in 1979, first working one day a week in St Davids and Solva surgeries, before taking on a full-time role. She has also served as medical officer for the lifeboat crew in St Davids for many years.

She said there had been a lot of changes in her time at the practice, including the expansion of the surgery from the previous surgery building, affectionately known as the “shoe box”.

“When I started all the paper records were done on cards, then eventually we got a computer in the ‘shoe box’ and now we never write anything,”

she added.

Although the number of patients at the surgery had remained at a similar level, Dr Hamilton said there had been big changes in the staffing arrangements.

“We only had district nurses helping with dressings, there were no such things as healthcare assistants and practice nurses, the roles have changed.

“This is a very privileged job as you’re very personally involved in people’s family life and you get to know people very well.”

A special farewell tea party was held in the surgery garden on May 3rd to allow local residents, former colleagues and patients to give their doctor a send-off.

She was presented with the proceeds of a collection, which former district nurse Iona Davies said was “on behalf of the grateful patients of St Davids”.

When asked about what she was going to do with her retirement, Dr Hamilton added: “I’m going to do the things I haven’t had time to do, spend time in my garden, do some travelling, starting off in Wales.

“Also I’ve got a kayak I don’t use very much and I’m going to see my family more often.”

Practice leader Dr Gawain Shelford will be joined by a new GP, Dr Margaret Ferguson. All patients registered with the practice previously under Dr Hamilton, will be automatically transferred to the practice list in the joint names of Dr Shelford and Dr Ferguson.