He was widely regarded as a “real life Dr Finlay” – as dedicated to his patients as the fictional BBC character.
But now Alan Belbin, who single-handedly served mainland Britain’s most northwesterly village of Durness as its GP since 1996, has opted to hang up his stethoscope.
His bosses described his departure as “the end of an era in terms of healthcare provision to Durness.”
The modest doctor declined to speak about his long service, but colleagues were in awe.
NHS Highland associate medical director Dr Ken Proctor said: “He has given almost two decades of constant service, serving the patients’ needs around the clock, often for weeks at a time without a break.
“When Alan was trained it was a time when GPs were expected to join and work in a practice for their whole professional lifetimes.
“Whatever the new arrangements of care, it will not distract from the dedication Alan has shown to his community throughout the years.
“Health historians in the future will reflect with some awe, I suspect, on the extraordinary commitment that single-handed doctors gave to their practices during the 20th century and early years of the 21st century.”
NHS Highland’s Caithness and Sutherland area manager Bob Silverwood said: “It’s clearly going to be a change for the community, so it’s important we work together to look at future models.”
Dr Belbin has been succeeded by locum cover with support from the Kinlochbervie and Scourie practice in an era in which there has been an unprecedented shortage of GPs.
Views are divided on whether increased salaries would entice candidates.
NHS Highland board member and former GP Michael Foxley believes it would work. Highlands Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon disagrees.
Recent figures revealed that 21 GP posts are unfilled in the region, two of which – at Acharacle and Thurso – have been vacant for almost three years. GPs’ salaries are currently in the region of £90,000.
Some Highland GPs claimed earlier this year that a new incentive system was biased against remote practices.
Under new rules, pay-outs are based on patient numbers and a “performance-related” points system.
The Durness practice has 324 patients. To put that into perspective, Fort William’s Craig Nevis surgery has more than 3,500.