My godfather, Kenneth Scott, who has died aged 92, made a significant contribution to medical practice both in Kent, where he worked for more than 40 years, and nationally. In 1955 he joined the practice of David Finer in Beckenham, which he subsequently developed into a progressive multi-partner practice, with full ancillary staff, providing the overall care that general practice is finding harder to achieve today.
He was one of the few GPs who continued to perform home deliveries when most were content to confine themselves to antenatal care in their surgeries. He fervently believed that visiting patients in their homes was an essential part of general practice. Many were the dinner parties and other social occasions that were interrupted by Kenneth leaving to attend a home birth or carry out a visit.
His influence was felt through his presidency of the National Association of Fundholding Practices, the forerunner of the National Association of Primary Care. In 1994 he was appointed OBE.
Kenneth was born in the heart of the Jewish community in Stamford Hill, north London, the youngest child of Sidney Scott, a teacher, and Rachel (nee Silverman). He had two sisters. He attended local schools and then did his national service in the RAF. He went to Guy’s hospital medical college, qualifying in 1953. He held various junior hospital posts, mainly in obstetrics and gynaecology, a specialty he took with him into general practice.
He was a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, within which he was a member of the heritage sub-committee. He continued this interest long after his retirement in 2001, spending many hours cataloguing antique medical equipment for the museums of both the Royal College and Guy’s hospital.
Kenneth was a keen gardener at the home in Beckenham that he shared with his wife, Anita. They loved nothing more than treating a doting cast of godchildren, nephews and nieces to birthday shopping trips to Harrods toy department and to lavish lunches at London hotels. They took enormous pride in the achievements of these youngsters as they grew up.
Anita (nee Levin), whom he married in 1951, survives him.
