Published: Thursday, 11th June, 2009 6:00am

Long-serving doctor's 'great sadness' at retirement due to ill-health

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AN EAST Linton doctor is set to retire from his village practice after serving the community for 26 years.

Dr Kenneth Hare, 56, said it was 'with great sadness' that he would be retiring from East Linton Surgery this month due to ill health.

The father-of-two, who lives in Dunbar with wife Liz, said: 'I have worked there for the past 26 years, almost all of my working life, and the emotional ties are huge.

'As a GP I have been with people through so many things: birth, childhood, marriage, failed relationships, illness, death and bereavement.

'The closeness that is forged with people through these shared experiences is something which many people may not understand.

'It is a great privilege that people trust you with sharing these times, both joyous and painful, and I will miss this.

'There are a lot of people that I shall miss greatly and I am very sad that I am not well enough to say goodbye to them personally at the present time.'

And he added: 'I know that East Linton Surgery will continue to thrive; the practice team of both administration and clinical staff is wonderful and I have great faith that Drs Miranda De Burgh and Elizabeth McIntosh will maintain the excellent personal care for all the patients at East Linton Surgery.'

Elayne Burley, practice manager, said: 'On behalf of the practice I"d just like to say that we have all loved working with Dr Hare and we"re very sad to see him go.'