Mohamed Elmaki Ahmed:
Intimate hugs, mutual smiles, music, songs, and clear love from hearts and eyes were shared for two hours, during warm farewells.
This emotional scene happened in Caversham Group Practice (Medical centre in Camden Borough in London) on 23 March 2024.
I attended a retirement tea party, which was organised by Caversham Medical Centre, for Dr Caroline Dickinson, who decided to retire after more than 30 years of working, as a GP ( General practitioner).
According to my experience with this kind, nice and helpful doctor from 2017 to 2024, she deserves this love and these tears and hugs.
By nature, Caroline built intimate spaces and strong social links with patients, who are from different backgrounds, British, Asian, African, and people from different religions.
According to NHS (National Health Service) in the UK a GP’’ provides general medical treatment for people who live in a particular area”.
But Dr Caroline is not only a professional GP but also a pioneer in human relations.
She built a long-term relationship with patients. During a search, I read a good doctor possesses four qualities, professionalism, communication, honesty, and competence.
Dr Caroline Dickinson is a professional, a good communicator, honest in her work, and a qualified GP, her sense of humanity built a story of a surprise human and natural love. Her love for all patients, from different backgrounds.
In this context, she is an excellent example of a doctor, she understands that the role of a GP is not only to provide medical treatment but also to build love, trust and mutual understanding with patients, of all ages, including the elderly, and disabled people.
140 people Joined Dickinson’s retirement tea party, according to Fay Saunders the Practice manager, who warmly welcomed the guests, with her staff and young doctors.
I had never seen until now such love at a farewell ceremony like what happened to Caroline.
Hugs and love were created by her interactions with patients. She succeeded in building that relationship by listening to her patients’ worries, and medical needs.
According to my experience, Caroline was very helpful, kind, and polite.
She answered my question,‘’ I was very moved to see so many patients come to the party to say an informal goodbye’’
she added. ‘I think the reason it was so emotional was that I have known many patients for very many years and so have formed personal relationships with them’’.
Caroline was born in London and studied at University College Hospital, she trained as a GP at the Hammersmith Hospital and in Shepherds Bush and then became a partner at the Caversham.
Her advice to junior doctors ” is to enjoy your job! It is such a privilege to care for people over so many years. Also, continuity of care is very important for both doctors and patients’’.
In the period ahead , she will train junior doctors ,and find more time to practise swimming.
I would not say goodbye, dear Caroline, you are in my heart, mind, and consciousness.
