On 1.11.1990, I joined the GP Partnership of Dr. Spink and Partners.  I had completed my GP Training three months previously with Bob Lee at Alma Rd Surgery in Southampton.  In the intervening few months, I had done a two week single-handed holiday locum for a small husband and wife Practice in Highfield, Southampton, and then joined the SHOs (Senior House Officers) at Southampton General A&E department.

Competition for GP Partnerships was probably past its peak of the 1980s, but it was still very stiff.  Scouring the BMJ adverts for Practices, preferably in south Hampshire, I read an advert for a Partnership vacancy in Stubbington, an attractive area, and near to family.  We went to the address given, to look at the surgery, only to find it was a private house.  Perhaps I should have smelt a rat, but I applied anyway, and was subsequently invited to an informal visit.  Barry Collins, whose house it was we had seen, took me on a tour of the three surgery sites (Lee-on-the-Solent Health Centre and the two owned surgeries in Privett Road and Rowner Road).  Later, I was to realise that the route taken had focused on the more affluent area of Alverstoke – home to those affectionately called “the Alverstocracy.”

I don’t recall any formal interview, but I do remember the “trial by sherry,” a traditional way to assess the new couple – a spouse was needed to answer the phone while the doctor was out on calls!  I also remember being invited to a Partnership meeting.  These business meetings were held once a month, in one of the Partners’ houses.  I had a strong interest in the business side of General Practice, so was keen to show them my desire to contribute to Practice management.  The subject of Haslar Detention Centre (as it was called before a later Home Secretary renamed it Haslar Removal Centre, just to make a point) came up.  With Gordon Spink set to retire in the New Year, there was discussion about whether or not to continue providing GP services to Haslar. I had studied the accounts carefully, and said that the loss of income could not be easily recouped … without realising, I had volunteered myself to take over the role of the Detention Centre’s Medical Officer!  I remained the MO at Haslar until its closure in 2015, and this role was to prove to be a springboard to many opportunities in my later career.