I joined the Practice on the 1stof November 1990, seamlessly following Mike Parson’s departure to become the first GP Pharmacy Advisor at the FHSA (Family Health Services Authority). Now, of course, such immediate replacement of GPs is virtually unknown, and many Practices are waiting for several months, or even years, to find a replacement GP. Absolute figures are disputed but nowadays there are probably thousands of GP vacancies in the UK: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/gp-vacancy-nhs-70-doctors-waiting-times-appointments-patient-safety-a8433596.html
It had been common for junior Partners to take three years before reaching parity of income. I persuaded the Partners that, as I was committed to full participation in the development of the Practice, this timescale should be shortened. We settled on one year to parity. The following November of 1991 came with a very nasty shock. Back then, tax was paid a year in arrears – now the self-employed (for that is what GP Partnerships are) are taxed on a current year basis. Although I had received a year of reduced drawings as agreed, I found myself being taxed on a full quarter share of the Practice’s income for the year preceding my arrival. We were completely devastated – how we didn’t cancel Christmas altogether, I don’t know!
For other reasons too, that first year in Practice was a baptism of fire. Mike Parsons’ leaving, and my arrival, were followed by four further partnership changes within a ten-month period. The two founding Partners, who had established the Practice in 1960, both retired: Gordon Spink in January 1991, and David Black in May 1991. Evelyn Beale left in March 1991, and set up a singlehanded Practice in the Lee-on-the Solent Health Centre, with the rest of us decamping from Lee, and working from our two main sites; and Janette Lloyd Joined the Partnership in August 1991. I took the lead in computerising the Practice, and also worked with Barry Collins on the extension of the Privett Road surgery.
At the annual Medico-Legal Dinner, at the end of 1991, I was asked what was my next ambition, and I replied: “becoming Senior Partner, I suppose.” It was some 22 years later that I succeeded John Grocock as Senior Partner in 2012. Despite all those extra years of experience, becoming Senior Partner was a real step up, and a daunting and challenging experience. Ah, the arrogance of youth!