Happiness gone for retiring GP

A prominent Peterborough doctor says the enjoyment of working for the NHS has gone as he retires after 40 years in medicine.
Dr Koneru Prasad with his partners and staff at his retirement   from Westwood Clinic. EMN-160204-113610009Dr Koneru Prasad with his partners and staff at his retirement   from Westwood Clinic. EMN-160204-113610009
Dr Koneru Prasad with his partners and staff at his retirement from Westwood Clinic. EMN-160204-113610009

Dr Koneru Prasad, a GP at Westwood Clinic and former executive chair of the Peterborough Primary Care Trust, said farewell to colleagues last Friday at a party at nearby Stafford Hall.

He is retiring from general practice to continue his work with HEAL, a Peterborough-based charity committed to sheltering, educating and caring for thousands of children in India.

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But he admits he’s somewhat fallen out of love with his profession due to the changing demands of the job.

He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working for the NHS, but I’m not happy to be working in it anymore because of the bureaucracy involved.

“I’m told all the time what I can and cannot do. I did not come into family practice to have responsibility for running a business as well.

“There’s no better privilege as a physician than to deal with the problem of your patient without worrying about the money and resources.”

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Dr Prasad (66), of Alwalton, trained in Edinburgh in 1976 before moving to Peterborough in 1981.

Noticing the “dilapidated” conditions of his workplace, he secured permission for a new building in Westwood thanks in part to a Peterborough Telegraph campaign.

And such was his dedication Dr Prasad even took out a loan with Lloyds Bank to fund the new centre which he is still paying back today.

Yet he believes all the effort was worth it, saying: “We have never looked back.”

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Dr Prasad now hopes to open up a new health centre in Peterborough which will focus on prevention and self-help.

And despite his disapproval of what the NHS has become he is sad to say goodbye to his colleagues. He added: “I could not have wished for a better primary care team.”

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