A life dedicated to treating patients is nearing the end for one popular Sutherland Shire doctor.
Jack Ng, a GP from Menai, is hanging up his stethoscope after 40 years of working in medicine.
The general practitioner is retiring this month, and will see his final patients on September 27.
Dr Ng is based at One White Street Family Medical Practice at Jannali, but the community will most likely also remember his time at Oyster Bay, where he worked solo for 20 years from 1979-1999. He lived at the back of the clinic.
"Back then, patients helped each other, they were more neighbourly," Dr Ng said. "Currently you might see one patient but the rest of their family sees other doctors. It's no longer the situation where you know the whole family well."
He then filled a spot at Jannali, where he has worked alongside two other doctors.
Of course he has been through the transitions, from paper records to manual data - but not everything that is modern is the best, he says.
"There have been major changes in technology that have made things easier for prescribing, diagnosing and monitoring, but we still keep paper files," Dr Ng said.
"We're a bit old-fashioned. Many patients like to attend large medical centres but we find they often return to us because they may not have spent enough time being seen."
Each Monday afternoon for the past 12 years, Dr Ng has been visiting elderly people at Woolooware Shores, and Goodhew Gardens, treating those in independent living and in nursing homes with dementia, arthritis, fall recovery and other clinical problems that arise from reduce mobility.
"I've enjoyed it because you seem to know the patients better when they are in their own surroundings," Dr Ng said.
"General practice has been the most rewarding. Getting to know the patients and their families, chatting with them, going through their ups and downs."
The practice will seek a replacement - a young doctor to join to team.
"I'm a bit sad about it all, but at the same time, I've been working for 40 years. It's time to call it a day," Dr Ng said.
He looks forward to spending more time with family and friends, playing golf, travelling to Europe and to Taiwan for his son's wedding.
"It's been a satisfying journey for me and I thank my patients who have supported me," he said. "I know many of them would like to keep in contact with me and I would like the same."
