Reflections on GPs

MY general practitioner (GP) for more than three decades has just retired; causing my reflection on my previous encounters with other GPs/ “family doctors”.

Born in the mid-1930s, my childhood/teen experiences were with Dr Alex Horn.

Dr Horn served as a Lt Colonel with WWI Australian Field Ambulances in Europe before returning to Toowoomba.

He resided at Tyson Manor (now Downlands College) and gifted what is now Horn Park to Toowoomba Council. He later located to his residence and consulting rooms at the corner of Herries and Neil Streets, almost opposite what was then the Western Transport Depot.

At that time not everyone was able to contact their doctor by phone from home. (Note: Bread, milk and fruit were delivered door-to-door on a regular basis by vendors, some using a horse-drawn vehicles.) Doctors made daily “house calls” as they determined necessary, or when urgently summoned by a call, usually from a public telephone box.

These days, I believe “tele-consultations” with doctors are often conducted by phone and urgent requirements (injury, loss of consciousness etc.) reported by phone to the Ambulance Service result in “ambos” making “house calls” usually resulting in conveyance to hospital; sometimes causing “ramping reports” in the media.

Dr Horn removed my tonsils when I was about four years old and I convalesced in Mylo Private Hospital. Later I experienced the common childhood illnesses of measles, chickenpox and at the age of 21 after a Dr Horn’s “home visit”/diagnosis recovered from mumps.

When in semi-retirement Dr Horn travelled from his then Highfields residence to conduct consultations in a West Street private residence once or twice a week.

Called for NASHO service and after joining ARES, I experienced brief encounters with RMOs Dr Lockwood in 25 Battalion drill hall (then at the corner of Kitchener and Margaret Streets) and Dr Rowe in his residence/consulting room “Millbrook” near East Creek. In response to his question “Have you had any operations?”, I answered “No” and was soundly admonished when responding to his say “Arrrh”, he observed I had undergone tonsillectomy some years previously.

Delvene and I married in 1963, bought a house in Newtown and Dr Bruce Drummond (a navy man I believe) became our “family doctor”, in purpose-built consulting rooms in Taylor Street. (Between Bernborough Lodge and Baker’s Pharmacy.)

He was joined by the now retired doctor who became our family doctor for 30 plus years, until his recent retirement.

JOHN LARKIN, Toowoomba