Retiring GP says he no longer has confidence in health services

Dr Brian Money, who retires today, said Maryport Health Services had been a trailblazer in health provision in the community.

Despite that, however, the surgery’s budget has been slashed by £160,000 by central government.

Dr Money, 63, said he had always planned to retire when he had seen his children through university but the surgery’s funding shortfalls had had an impact on his decision to step down now.

He said: “I am aware that GPs are the most expensive component in a doctors’ surgery, which helped me make my decision to retire.”

He said it was essential that services remained in the town.

But he expressed doubts that more resources would ever be given to the town.

Maryport Alliance is fighting for Maryport to have more health funding and greater direct control following Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group’s decision early this month to back the proposed removal of beds from the town’s hospital in favour of more health support in the community.

“Increased resources have never happened,” said Dr Money.

“There is a proposal to form an integrated community care team with Cockermouth, so this would not be care in the community.”

He said Maryport had been given so many opportunities to have them taken away through lack of financial support.

Dr Money, who was born in Southern Rhodesia, came to the UK in 1973 to study medicine in London.

He specialised as a consultant for the elderly and worked in Scotland where he met his late wife Janet, also a doctor. The couple spent six months working in Australia but Janet wanted to return to Cumbria in 1985.

Dr Money is having a new house built in the town and is preparing to move from his current home in Camp Road.

A keen tennis player who has represented the county, he remains a member of Maryport Tennis Club. He hopes, in his retirement, to train as a coach and teach adults to play. He also wants to become more involved in Our Lady and St Patrick’s Church.