A message from Dr Patrick Gibson relating to his retirement

Posted on March 16th, 2022

Retirement message from Dr Gibson

After 36 years, most of which have been spent at Essex House, I have decided with some sadness to retire, at the start of April, from partnership at the practice.

In 1986 I was living in Hackney and working at Frimley Park when a colleague tipped me off that there was an excellent GP training scheme at Queen Mary’s Hospital. I was fortunate enough to be appointed and started an attachment at Essex House. Most of my career has been there, the last 25 years as a partner, and it has been the most stimulating and fulfilling time I could ever have anticipated.

Dr John Watson, a predecessor and my Essex House trainer, strongly counselled working in a training practice to counteract the risk of isolation and so that juniors could “give you a kick up the jacksie” when you got a bit ahead of yourself. I am very grateful to the staff and patients who have enabled that training environment to be a constant background to my life at the practice and helped keep us moving forward.

I leave, knowing the practice is in great shape. Dr Amoyel is succeeding me as partner after more than a decade working within the practice. She has already shown exemplary leadership in leading our educational activities, supporting training and representing us in the new Primary Care Network. She is compassionate, caring and committed and “my” patients will be in great hands. Our reception team is as strong as I have ever known it and the increasingly diverse team of doctors, nurses and the range of allied health professionals evolving in recent years point to the brightest of futures.

I also want to record my thanks and appreciation to my partners, Drs Flood and Hockney along with our manager Alison  for their tireless commitment to maintaining and developing the practice over those years. Keeping up standards, momentum and morale requires committed leadership and I have been fortunate to work with such gifted individuals.

There are always frustrations working within the super-tanker that is the NHS but the improvements in care and outcome for patients make those pale into relative insignificance. However the joy and privilege of general practice primarily comes from the relationships that have developed over the years with the personal list model we have supported at the practice. Barnes is renowned for its sense of community with the its great pubs, fantastic Community Association, The Bugle, OSO, Churches, The Day Centre and so much more and it has been the greatest privilege to be able to support that great community. The kindness and generosity of so many of you within the community has sustained, energised and helped me to maintain motivation over the years and the people of Barnes will always be close to me.

I thank you all.