Married GPS’ road from a corner shop to booming practice
A MARRIED couple who are both GPS are planning to retire after nearly 30 years of running their medical practice.
Doctors Tariq and Zahida Hama started the Hama Medical Centre in a converted Kimberley corner shop in 1995. They will retire in June.
Tariq, 67, from Redhill, admits the shop was “far from an ideal situation”. There was no room for some to work.
He said: “There was a waiting room for about 10 people and a reception, but we used no computers just paperheld records.
“We had to fight tooth and nail with the local authorities to get planning permission to build a proper medical centre on the site.”
In April 1997, the current practice on Nottingham Road was commissioned, bringing updated facilities and a larger capacity. In the years since, the patient list has risen from 1,500 to 5,500.
Tariq has seen lots of changes, from the digitalisation of medical records to an increase in services provided.
He said: “We were a family doctors.’ We got to know the patients, we got to know their children and their backgrounds.
“Over the years we have seen those children grow up, get married, have their own children.
“We have seen generations go through that phase. There was very much a community spirit. It was how we ran the place.”
Talking about the reason behind the couple retiring, he added: “We are getting on in years now and the demands being put on GPS are very difficult to keep pace with.
“The Government’s expectations are high. Yet they are not providing us with the resources.”
Zahida added: “We are truly grateful to our patients for the love and respect they have shown over the years.
“We are also grateful to the staff who have been committed and have shared our view of providing the best healthcare possible to patients.”
As well as running the practice, Tariq has also run several marathons over the years to raise money for a range of charities. A keen runner, he says he has always encouraged patients to be active as he knows the importance of self-care and preventative healthcare.
The husband-and-wife team say they are ready to embrace the next chapter in their lives, which is expected to be “slowing down” and “taking on grandparent duties”.
They will hold a farewell get-together for patients and staff on June 1 at the Nuthall Temple function room behind the Methodist Church.