A DOCTOR who helped shape health services in Darlington is retiring after serving the town for almost 30 years.
Denmark Street GP Roger James will finish work next month after spending most of his career developing local medical services.
Born in Dunbar, Scotland, the 57-year-old trained at Edinburgh University and at a practice in Carlisle before moving to Darlington in 1975.
Since then he has worked to develop the Denmark Street practice, introducing many innovations and improving NHS services as a whole, while serving as the chairman of the primary care group, the predecessor of the Primary Care Trust.
He is also a former chairman of St Teresa's Hospice.
Dr James said he had witnessed a shift of emphasis in medicine from treating illnesses to preventative measures.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article