Picture: Becky Saunderson. Image No.043270
AFTER over two decades of selfless service to patients in Buckie and the surrounding area to his credit, it was time recently for local GP Dr Bernie Welsh to hang up his stethoscope for the last time. Colleagues past and present, joined by family and friends, gathered at Ardach Health Centre to pay tribute to the popular GP, who first joined the practice when it was based in Benreay 21 years ago. Leading the thanks to Dr Welsh, whose attention to patients’ needs often meant that appointment timings went out the window when necessary, was senior parter Dr Lewis Walker. “Bernie has always been there with a wise head, a wide perspective and a cool head,” he said. “He’s been a great counterbalance, a good voice of reason in the practice and will be a huge miss for us all.” In preparation for a threeweek cycle trek across Peru with his daughter later this year, he was presented with a number of cycling-related gifts.
Dr Welsh said he been left “completely overwhelmed” by the response to his retiral. He continued: “I’ve been reflecting a lot in the last few weeks as retirement has got closer and it feels quite odd, really. “I’ve thought most about the interaction I’ve had with patients over the years, which has been positive, and how much I’ve enjoyed working here. ” Dr Welsh went on to quote Sebastian Junger and his book Tribe, which highlights the importance of belonging to a tribe for humans and how bereft they feel not to be part of one. “This strikes a chord with me,” he told the assembled company. “My workmates have been my tribe and I will leave here a lot more bereft than I had at first suspected. “I’m going to miss you all hugely.” Concluding, Dr Welsh said how delighted he was to see a new generation of staff coming through at the centre before praising Dr Walker for his drive and determination to turn Ardach from a dream into a reality. Originally hailing from London, Dr Welsh has enjoyed a successful 32year career in the medical profession after graduating from Aberdeen University. A love of Scotland guided his choice of university and has seen him not stray far from the north-east. Dr Welsh said he has no history of family involvement with the medical profession and was inspired to pursue a medical vocation after a year spent working as a nursing assistant. As to the happiest memories of his time as a GP, he had no hesitation in his answer. “The most satisfying part of the job has been getting to know loads of patients and their families, that and working with fantastic colleagues.”