RETIREMENT OF DR DAVID BADHAM

After 33 years in the Practice in Milford on Sea I will be retiring on 31 March 2009.  I have had a very fulfilling professional life which I have found both challenging and enjoyable.  It is rewarding trying to offer holistic care with initial diagnosis through to investigation or referral on to ongoing care.

During my time in the Practice there have been considerable developments and changes.  In 1976 the Surgery itself consisted of one consulting room which we shared, one small waiting room and a tiny office.  This was reached via some off putting concrete steps making it difficult for elderly or infirm patients to attend.  At that time there was an urgent need for new premises and we moved to the old Health Centre by 1978.  This served us well until the end of the century and in 2002 we moved to our magnificent new Medical Centre. An extremely rewarding part of our work was looking after our own in patients at Milford Hospital.  Sadly we lost this facility in 2007.

Alongside my career in general practice I have been involved in teaching and training of students and junior doctors in training.  This has been a dynamic process.  There is always a two way process of learning with fresh ideas being supplemented by experience and knowledge.  Numerous medical students as well as 20 GP registrars and 5 foundation year doctors have been at our practice during my time here.

It has been a great privilege caring for patients in the area.  I hope in the future to continue some medicine either as a locum or as a cruise doctor.  I look forward to having more time to enjoy our wonderful amenities in the New Forest and by the sea.  Julie and I are continuing to live in Milford on Sea for the foreseeable future and will look forward to seeing some of you in a different role from now on.

With my best wishes to all the patients and my thanks to my colleagues at the Medical Centre for their support.