Dr Henry Doig
DELIVERING babies, administering anaesthetics, mixing medicines and performing minor surgery were all part of a GP’s duties when Doctor Henry Doig began working in East Kilbride in 1959.
The 81-year-old retired GP believes local health care has improved greatly under the National Health Service.
However, while Dr Doig is impressed with progress under the health service, he admits he would not change a single thing about his own career as a GP – spanning from 1959 until his retirement in 1991.
He said: “Working practices and conditions have improved markedly since I first started out but I wouldn’t think as many of today’s GPs could enjoy their work more than I did.
“We would be required to work all hours of the day, indeed there were not many nights we would not be called out.
“Many of the call-outs would be to deliver a new baby - a very important and enjoyable duty of a GP.
“The practice would also double as an accident and emergency unit, required to stitch people up and even sometimes perform minor surgery.
“Local health care has changed and many of these services are now provided in hospitals.
“The treatments available to patients now are fantastic compared to those available when I started out.
“But I enjoyed my career and the responsibilities that perhaps are not expected of GPs today.
On these pages Dr Doig gives an intriguing insight to life as a GP from the early years of the NHS until more recent times.
Keeping Busy
In addition to working as a GP Dr Doig fulfilled many important roles in the East Kilbride area and the wider medical community - and is still involved in working with a number of different groups.
- Involved in the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) – working on guidelines for tackling illnesses and disease involving the arteries of the legs.
- A member of the East Kilbride and District Public Partnership Forum – a health advisory group which meets four to six times a year.
- Serves with the Crossroads Charity – which helps carers.
- Active member of the East Mains Community Council in East Kilbride.
- Vice President for the Lanarkshire Girl Guides.
- From 1968 until retiring he was the chief medical officer for the local authority, the Inland Revenue, and for St Andrew’s Ambulance Service.
- Was on the National Medical Consultative Committee of Obstetrics.
- From 1959 to 2002 worked with the Police in East Kilbride – providing medical assistance at murders, serious assaults road accidents etc.