Epping GP Dr Diana Lowry to retire from High Street Surgery next month

Dr Diana Lowry of the High Street practice in Epping has announced she will be hanging up her stethoscope on August 17.

She grew up in Birmingham, trained at Middlesex Hospital in London and started work at the practice in 1982 - then based at 267 High Street, which is now a physiotherapist.

With doctors Pradhan and Hayden, a new surgery was built in 1995 at 301 High Street, and is still known to many as the High Street Surgery.

Dr Lowry has dished out pills and advice for more than 34 years, with only two short maternity leaves.

She said: “There have been many wonderful new medicines and treatments over the years which have made such a difference to the quality of people’s lives, but the current of change in the NHS has made it difficult to continue giving personal and total care for body, soul and mind.

“The increased availability of GP appointments at weekends and in the evenings, while providing more accessible care for patients, makes it much less likely that they will regularly see the same doctor.

“Many of my patients have become friends over the years and I will miss them.

“However I will not be moving away from Epping and so will probably continue to see some of the around the town.”

Dr Lowry says she has “done her bit” for the NHS by having a son who recently qualified as a GP himself, and plans to work in north-west England.

During retirement, Dr Lowry plans to stay in Epping and increase her work at St John’s Church where she is already a qualified lay minister.

She regularly preaches there and at other churches in the area and is also able to officiate at funerals.

She also plans to go on more holidays, spend more time on her hobbies such as sewing, gardening and cooking and spend time with her family and pet dog.

A retirement tea party will be held for patients at The Box in St John’s Road, between 2pm and 5pm on August 13.

To attend, RSVP in the surgery reception.