Doctor D'Mello's farewell to town

A much-loved Hucknall doctor is set to retire from his general practice after 34 years in the town.
Staff at the Whyburn Medical Practice wish retiring doctor, Kevin D'Mello farewell during an event filled last day which saw the Curtis Street practice evacuated after the fire alarm went off.Staff at the Whyburn Medical Practice wish retiring doctor, Kevin D'Mello farewell during an event filled last day which saw the Curtis Street practice evacuated after the fire alarm went off.
Staff at the Whyburn Medical Practice wish retiring doctor, Kevin D'Mello farewell during an event filled last day which saw the Curtis Street practice evacuated after the fire alarm went off.

Dr Kevin D’Mello started working for his family practice D’Mellos , at the Health Centre on Curtis Streetin August 1982 and stayed there as it became the Portland Practice and later the Whyburn Practice.

Patients who wish to say goodbye to him are invited to a party on Thursday July 28, between between 2.30 and 4.30pm.

Dr D’Mello, who turned 60 two weeks ago, said: “Since people have found out I will be leaving the demonstration of their affection has humbled me. I feel very honoured that they respect me so much.

“In my day to day work you just get on and do the work.

“I really enjoyed my time here in Hucknall. I found working as a GP a very. very rewarding experience.”

“I am very sad to be leaving - however, my partner lives in Norwich so I will be moving there. They are younger than me and have longer to go in their career.

“I plan to have a couple of months off and then I hope to continue working perhaps two days a week. I will take some time to settle into my new home.”

Dr D’Mello leaves behind a group of colleagues at the practise who will miss him.

Sue Rollins, reception manager, said: “I have worked with him for nearly 30 years. He is brilliant.

“He is a fantastic doctor and the patients will miss him very much.”

He said: “The party will be tearful on both sides. I will miss them.

“When you have looked after people for 34 years, it is a big change for people - especially now some are heading towards 80. Having to learn to meet a new doctor will be quite difficult for them.”

His father Benedict ran the practice from 1967 to his retirement in 1997.

He worked alongside his mother Theresa, who was there from 1967 to 1978, when she was forced to stop work because of severe arthritis.

“She has sadly passed away,” said Dr D’Mello. “But my father is alive and well and still living in Hucknall.”

His sister Myra was also there from 1979, until her early retirement through poor health in 2007.

Of working alongisde his mother, father and sister, Dr D’Mello said: “It worked very well. Obviously you have to be very professional and accept that you have to separate family from work. That’s important.

“Sometimes you might have different opinions but they must be resolved in a professional way.”

He said: “I grew up here from the age of ten.

“I really like Hucknall - which is why I came back, and I have really loved working here. It has been very, very rewarding to be the GP for people I knew as a child.”

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