The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Doctor’s retiral brings a proud tradition to an end
David Proudfoot followed his parents by becoming GP in Dundee
For more than six decades there has been a Doctor Proudfoot in Dundee.
So today marks the end of an era as David Proudfoot hangs up his stethoscope for the last time.
The Hilltown GP is the son of doctors Frederick and Elizabeth Proudfoot, who moved to Dundee with their young family to set up a GP practice in their home in Inverary Terrace in 1954.
When David decided to follow in their footsteps, it guaranteed their legacy would carry on for the next generation.
However, after 30 years of treating patients, his retirement brings an end to 64 years of Proudfoot GPs in Dundee.
David said: “I didn’t intend to take over my parents’ practice, but I had been working with my father for a year and then when he retired we took the patients from the home clinic to one in Dudhope Street for three years, and then to the Hillbank Health Centre.
“There will be a lot of older people in Dundee that have been treated by my parents and then their children will have been seen by me.”
David knew he wanted to be a doctor for as long as he can remember.
“It was always around when I grew up,” he said.
“I remember my dad would shout through to me to shut up as he was trying to listen to somebody’s heartbeat.
“My mum would also come out from the clinic to put on the supper and then go back to treating patients. It was a different time, that wouldn’t happen now.”
Elizabeth encouraged other women to take up medical training and touched the lives of countless strangers through her advice column in Jackie magazine.
David’s brother, Michael, also followed in their parents’ footsteps. He was a GP in Dunfermline for many years.
And further entrenching the family ties in the medical profession, David met his wife of 31 years, Helen, through her work as a psychiatric nurse.
Neither of their two sons, 30-year old Iain or 26-year old Rory, have decided to carry on the tradition. But David isn’t too disheartened.
“It probably would have been nice,” he said. “But I didn’t want to push them into anything. I don’t believe in that. As long as they’re happy.”
David’s main impetus behind retiring at 58 is to spend more time with Helen.
He is also looking forward to travelling the west coast and maintaining his passion for photography as well as perhaps picking up some new hobbies – his fellow practice partners bought him a flying lesson as a retirement gift.
He said: “It can be a stressful job, so it will be good to take some time off.
“I could not have managed without the help of all the staff. It has been a privilege to look after the patients over a long number of years.
“I don’t see them just as patients.”
My mum would also come out from the clinic to put on the supper and then go back to treating patients. DR DAVID PROUDFOOT