Bustling Mornington Health Centre, in Dunedin, is a far cry from the "dump" Dr Tony Fitchett started working in as a GP in Mornington 40 years ago.
Dr Fitchett (67) retires at the end of this week from the centre he helped Dr Tim Medlicott set up in the 1970s. Before it opened in 1978, the two worked in another Eglinton Rd premises they shared with a TAB.
"It was a dump."
He was proud of how the new centre developed, starting with two GPs and adding additional services and doctors. It become a Primary Health Organisation in 2003.
As a PHO in direct control of funding, the centre developed myriad programmes, including innovative nursing specialties.
He was unhappy the centre lost its PHO status when forced to amalgamate with the super Otago and Southland PHO, Southern PHO.
Mornington had been the most successful PHO in the country, based on national performance measures, he said.
Staff prided themselves on working as a team.
The centre had a Maori and Pacific Island specialist nurse, mental health nurses, diabetes, and respiratory nurses.
The practice had managed to keep these programmes since losing its PHO status, but it was harder without direct control over funding.
In his own practice, obstetrics was an important part of the earlier years, and at its peak he delivered about 85 babies a year.
There was "no doubt" having babies was safer when GPs rather than midwives were in charge, he said.
Caring for someone through pregnancy and labour was a great way to get to know families, which helped doctor-patient relationships, and the GP's link with the community.
In his retirement, Dr Fitchett planned to work part-time at the centre as a locum.
He would also spend more time at the 3.4ha property in Pine Hill he shared with wife, Bron Medlicott-Fitchett.
Last night, Dr Fitchett marked his retirement with a function attended by friends and colleagues at the Hunter Centre at the University of Otago.
