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Dr Graham Tinto will lay down his stethoscope for the final time next week.
He is retiring on Wednesday, October 31, after 29 years service as a GP on Arran. Graham took up the post of partner to Dr Michael Starks in 1978. The practice consulted out of Tigh an Iar in Church Lane, Lamlash, and Arnhall Lodge, Whiting Bay. Consultations were also carried out on Wednesdays at The Smithy, Sliddery.
Last Wednesday Graham spoke to The Banner about his career and life on Arran. ‘There was no medical tradition in my family but it just seemed to fit the bill with my ability and personality, and I have never regretted it for one moment,’ he said.
After being brought up in Giffnock and Crookston on the south side of Glasgow he studied medicine at Glasgow University and trained for a year with house jobs at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. This was followed by a spell in South Africa. ‘I wanted to get some experience in developing country situations. A personal friend out there reassured me that the apartheid set up would not create a problem for me. We still keep in touch.’
On return to Scotland, Graham spent a year as a GP trainee at Crieff then went to Hairmyers in East Kilbride. It was there that he met his future wife Barbara Sheridan. ‘She was a young doctor who I took under my protective wing,’ he explained with a laugh. On 1 May 1978 he took up a vacancy with Dr Starks’ practice in Lamlash. At the time The Banner reported ‘although Dr Starks had hoped to retire this year he will carry on until the practice reaches a stable and satisfactory status’.
That opportunity came 18 months later. Graham and Barbara Tinto were married on September 25 in the University Chapel, Glasgow and Barbara took over from Dr Starks in the Arran practice. The husband and wife partnership continued until 1981 when Colin, the first of their five children, was born.
Graham was then joined by Dr Angus Campbell. ‘I have been very fortunate in my choice of partners, both medical and marital,’ he said.
We asked him what have been the biggest changes he has seen in 29 years of Arran practice? ‘The advent of computers,’ he answered. ‘And the number of staff. When we started out at Tigh an Iar Jackie Norris was our only and part-time administration member of staff. Now there are 11 staff on the payroll including a practice manager and two practice nurses. The number of patients has not hugely increased but the workload has increased with the focus on preventative medicine.
‘There has also been a shift towards earlier discharge from mainland hospitals which impacts on the GPs. The needs of a rural community are more wide-reaching and the evolution of medical services has improved the quality for patients.’
In August 1987 doctors Tinto, Campbell and Kerr moved from the cramped conditions of Tigh an Iar to a purpose-built medical centre at Arranton, Lamlash.
Construction work has just begun on a new Whiting Bay surgery in Montrose Terrace. ‘It is long overdue,’ said Graham. ‘Angus and our practice manager Joyce Beasley have been heavily involved in the design of the new building which will offer an improved service to patients.’
An extra string to Graham’s bow has been his experience in anaesthetics which has been regularly employed at Arran War Memorial Hospital. ‘I mainly assisted in operations involved with major trauma and airway problems,’ he explained.
Away from the health service Graham has many interests. In 1982 he was one of 7,000 entrants in the first Glasgow Marathon. He finished the 26-mile race in three hours and 42 minutes and raised money for Save the Children Fund. In 1985 he and Barbara appeared on STV’s Cross Current television programme in a discussion about marriage between partners of different religions. Since 1989 he has been a cub leader and takes care of 15 youngsters. ‘I believe that the scout movement helps children in the growing-up experience,’ he said.
Graham was involved in the Arran Against the Bomb group and has strong beliefs that the nuclear option is flawed. He is now an active member of the Arran Justice, Peace and Environment Group.
Retirement will release more time for golf. ‘My handicap is 19 but it may hopefully fall,’ he said. ‘Golf keeps me humble.’
Four of the family have left home and are spread over the country. ‘It will give me freedom to go off and see them whenever I want.’ He is also looking forward to having more time to help Barbara with her Riding for the Disabled group.
The decision to retire was made easier by having somebody ready to take over from him. ‘Recruitment and retention is a national problem in rural practices but we are lucky in having Dr Graeme Thompson ready to take over from me,’ he said.
Finally, Graham Tinto was particularly keen to pay tribute to his professional colleagues. ‘I have been very fortunate to have had the support of an excellent team of colleagues at the medical centre, the hospital and in the health and social sectors on Arran.’
