13 February 2009
Trust’s longest serving consultant retires
The longest serving consultant at mid Essex Hospital, Mr Dennis Thoung from Roxwell near Chelmsford, has retired after 31 years of service.
Mr Thoung, a consultant ophthalmologist, began his career at Mid Essex at the Chelmsford and Essex Hospital in 1978 before moving to Broomfield in 1985 where he has worked ever since.
During his career Mr Thoung has seen a great number of changes in ophthalmology. He said:” When I first began a consultant patients would have to stay in hospital for seven days following a cataract operation, now it can be done as day surgery. The outcomes for these patients are also much better, due to the advances in medical technology; this is all good news for the patient.”
Mr Thoung says: “When I started as a consultant I had to do all aspects of ophthalmology and it has only been in recent years that consultants have specialised in particular areas.” So what does Mr Thong like most about being a consultant? “I really enjoy the surgery as I like working with my hands and find it very gratifying. I see a lot of cataract patients and perform the surgery. It is very gratifying as the patients get almost instant results from this operation.”
The ophthalmology team at mid Essex has more than doubled since Mr Thoung began his career. “There are now five consultants, compared to two when I joined the Trust. This has been necessary to meet the increased workload which has increased over the years in line with the growth in our local population,” he adds.
When asked if Mr Thoung thinks his patients will miss him he adds modestly:”I haven’t actually told them that I am retiring, although many of them seem to know! I think it is time for me to retire as I now treat the children of patients that I first treated when they were children over 20 years ago. I also have one 80 year old patient who told me that I treated her mother which I thought was impossible but when I worked it out I decided it is quite feasible as I have been around a long time!”
When asked what Mr Thoung will miss most about the Hospital when he retires, he replied:” My colleagues and nurses. They have been very kind to me over the years and helped to make my working life very enjoyable. I would like to thank them all.”
ENDS
Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948
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