A GP who has served residents in Gainford for the past 38 years is to retire on his 65th birthday this month.
Dr Mike Neville became the second generation of his family to practise at Gainford Surgery when he joined his father Billy in 1982 after reading medicine at Sheffield University and completing GP training in Bassetlaw.
In his time the surgery has been rated in the top two per cent in country, with a 100 per cent patient approval.
The surgery maintained a family connection when Dr Neville’s father retired and his brother-in-law Ian Waldin joined the team.
Then in 2014 Dr Neville’s daughter Lizzie joined as a GP, making her the third generation of the family to serve the community.
Reflecting on his time at the surgery, Dr Neville said: “I feel privileged to have been able to work in this beautiful part of the world serving a great set of people.
“I have enjoyed my time working with all my colleagues over the years, first my dad, next my friend and brother-in-law Ian.
“There are others I should mention including Annie, my wife, who was the much-loved practice nurse for many years, Ann Johnson who, as practice manager, moved mountains in enabling the move to the current location and Nicola Finch, our current practice manager who heads the current team.
“The practice is very popular with a high rating in an Ipsos Mori poll two years ago showing 100 per cent patient approval putting it in the top two per cent in England and this is down to the hard work of the practice team.”
Dr Neville added: “The patients themselves have helped greatly, especially during the current Covid lockdown by pro-actively arranging volunteers to collect and deliver prescriptions.
“There has also been great compliance with and acceptance of the measures that have been needed to deal with the current Covid pandemic,” he said.
“It is odd to be retiring in these unprecedented times with huge curtailments of people’s activities under the threat of the coronavirus.
“It is certainly apparent that things will be significantly different for the foreseeable future and that as a nation we will need to pull together to go forward and get the country back functioning again.”
Dr Lizzie Neville said: “I’m very lucky to have worked with him for six years. I am going to miss him at work and it will be strange with him not around. He is the person everyone goes to for advice at work and he is very well liked and respected.”
The doctor aims to play more golf and do more fishing and gardening in his retirement.
John Robinson, operator of nearby Headlam Hall, said his family, and many other patients of the surgery, appreciated the years of service Dr Neville had given the community.
He added: “I can remember his father, the late Dr Bill, coming to Gainford as a single practitioner in the early 1950s and then Michael joining him some 30 years later, how time flies.
“Since then he along with Dr Ian have developed a friendly and efficiently run surgery that is exceptional in the quality of care given to its patients.
“Moving to the new premises on the site of the old Gainford Garage was a bold but progressive move for which much credit must be given to Michael and his team.”
Practice manager Nicola Finch described Dr Neville as very professional and a great team leader who is fair to everyone at all times.
She said: “Mike is very good to work for and I have enjoyed working with him very much over the years in the practice.
“As well as being a dedicated GP he has been a key contributor to other services within the NHS linked to the surgery. His extensive GP and wider NHS knowledge and experience will be greatly missed at the practice.”
