A much loved and respected Cambuslang GP, who is stepping into retirement, has thanked generations of patients for giving him the honour of treating them over a period of 40 years.
Founding practitioner of Ardoch Medical Practice, Dr Anoop Gajree – who has not been able to offer face-to-face consultations for the past year due to the pandemic – says his only regret is not having the opportunity to personally bid farewell to the families he has cared for over four decades.
Dr Gajree graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1976 before training with practices in both Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
In 1982, he took over the practice of retiring Dr Robert Meek, and ran the surgery at 55A Main Street, in Cambuslang’s shopping precinct, as a lone practitioner.
He said: “I was a single practitioner there for a number of years. Then, 15 years ago, the opportunity came up to develop the Ardoch Medical Practice.
“It was a house we converted into a medical centre. Because there were issues we had to overcome, such as problems with planning and parking, it took two years to develop.” As it grew, Dr Gajree amalgamated his practice with that of fellow single practitioner, Dr Ohri, who retired 10 years ago.
Now a large practice with no fewer than 3700 registered patients, Drs Peter Ferrell and Laura Simpson have since joined the team at the Ardoch clinic.
“Having been there for 40 years, I have known parents, children, grandchildren and even some great grandchildren. It has been very, very rewarding,” said Dr Gajree, 69, whose three children followed him into medicine: one as a consultant in elderly care general medicine, another as a consultant anaesthetist, and his youngest is training to be an ophthalmologist.
“Not being able to see patients face to face over the last year has been terrible. Especially coming up to retiral, the one thing I regret is not having the chance to properly tell patients and say goodbye to them and thank them for letting me look after them,” said grandfather of three, Dr Gajree.
Paying tribute to his colleagues over the years, he added: “You can’t run a practice as an individual. The staff have been very loyal and faithful to me and I owe them a lot for standing by me for 40 years.
“Most of the staff have worked there for many years and been instrumental in developing the practice.”
Practice manager of 13 years, Elspeth Miller, said Dr Gajree will be missed by patients and staff alike and added: “He is the nicest person ever.
“He looks after staff extremely well and is very approachable and understanding. He will be missed by us, and by the community, very much.”
Of hanging up his stethoscope for the last time, Dr Gajree said: “I think the main thing I will miss is the contact with the patients and being able to provide help when they need it.
“I would like to thank all the patients who have allowed me and given me the honour, to treat them over the years, especially as I have not been able to say goodbye to them in person.
“Retirement is going to be tough, having worked for so many years, but the time is right.
“The main thing is to take life easily and have time to spend with my family, my children and my grandchildren.”
