From 2001, Kate Bellingham was a GP at Page Hall practice until this last year when she moved, unfortunately, to Crookes. Good and committed and sympathetic doctors form an essential but rarely-publicised foundation for how well a neighbourhood or a community is able to work. Kate has been nominated by a number of her former patients in Fir Vale for her own particular contribution.
She has been described as “a unique GP – extremely caring, approachable, and a true professional” and it’s widely thought that her contribution has had a very real impact on the area.
There has been particular emphasis on how as a health professional she relished working in a multi-lingual community like Fir Vale – “language and cultural differences and background were never a problem….” Kate herself remembers that she never had that ‘Sunday evening syndrome’ when she was at Page Hall; she felt very close to people – patients, the staff (many of who live locally) and as a result developed a strong link with families. She’s always wanted to treat patients who see her as she would her own parents – and enjoy the privilege that she’s got from being with the people of Fir Vale.
Her patience with people was particularly remarked upon – “although I don’t speak English, I was always so relaxed with her and I really felt she understood my problems; despite my background, my colour and my culture – she saw me as a person”.
A well deserved honour for a wonderful GP.