BY NUALA MCALOON

After 36 years caring for the sick and needy at Irvinestown Health Centre, Dr Margaret Elliott will hang up her stethoscope for the last time this week to make way for her official retirement this Saturday, 30th June.

Such is her popularity that the people of Irivinestown turned out in their droves on Friday night last to celebrate her services to the community for the best part of four decades.

"We had a great evening," Dr Elliott reported. "My husband and I were collected by pony and coach and brought to the Bawnacre. It was a complete shock and I nearly died. We had a relaxing ride through the town which was arranged by George Beacom, staff and an organising committee. It was an open invitation to all, and I was really surprised and the sentiments expressed astounded me."

'A people's person' throughout, Dr Elliott studied at Queen's University, Belfast, before commencing her career at a house office and working at a hospital in Dungannon before taking up a three month work placement as a GP in Trillick in 1968. In November, 1968, she moved to Ederney where she worked until September, 1971, before moving to what became her long term post at Irvinestown Health Centre.

There she was joined by the late Dr Maurice Clements and Dr Billy Kyle, all three of whom shared a good working relationship with each specialising in a particular area of medicine.

"My speciality was women's health, the elderly, the terminally ill and palliative care", she explained. "In 1990, Nurse Ann Maguire and myself set up the Well Person's Clinic which was mainly for the examination of women. We held a clinic once a week, and I am very pleased to say it is still going and hopefully it will continue to do so."

Throughout her career, Dr Elliott has experienced many changes both in medicine and personnel. She listed some of these.

"There have been changes in medicine and the re-organisation of services. There have also been changes in all personnel and office staff. There have been big changes with computers. I found that quite daunting at the start, but I got to grips with it to a fair extent, although I wouldn't call myself computer literate," she laughs, "but I knew enough to do me.

"I enjoyed medicine and I enjoyed my patients. I didn't like bureaucracy or the re-organisation of services because it cuts our time with patients. I was a 'people person' and always tried to put the patient first. Knowing them for so long, I knew them and they became my friends."

And to that end, Dr Elliott says it is her contact with patients that she is going to miss most, especially working with the terminally ill and their families.

"I will also miss 'the girls' as we call them, the office staff, and will miss my colleagues Dr Alan Hutchinson, Dr Colin McCaw, Dr Eugene Haigney and Dr Conor Sprice."

Dr Elliott says she doesn't like to use the word, 'retirement' and still hopes to work an occasional locum.

Her time, however, will be freed up to spend with her husband, Cecil Knox and their son, David who lives in London.

A keen gardener, walker and musician, she is also a member of her community choir and the Mother's Union and is involved with her parish church, Derryvullan North, where she is the organist.

In appreciation of her services to the community, Dr Elliott was presented with garden furniture and inscribed plague.

All other gift donations, Dr Elliott said, will be divided among a number of charities of her choice.