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Elgin-raised doctor honoured for services to healthcare


By Sarah Rollo

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A DOCTOR who was raised in Elgin has been made an MBE for services to healthcare in Scotland during the Covid-19 response.

Dr Carey Lunan, a working GP in one of Scotland's poorest communities, is chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) in Scotland.

During the Covid-19 response, Dr Lunan became a prominent national figure, featuring on the television, radio and in newspapers to remind people still to seek help for urgent health concerns.

It came after figures suggested patients were delaying going to their GP or the hospital during the pandemic.

Dr Carey Lunan has been made an MBE for services to healthcare in Scotland during the COVID-19 response.
Dr Carey Lunan has been made an MBE for services to healthcare in Scotland during the COVID-19 response.

As well as caring for her patients in one of Edinburgh's Deep End practices, Dr Lunan represents a network of around 5000 doctors in the RCGP Scotland, aiming to improve care for patients while acting as the voice of GPs on resources, education, training, research and clinical standards.

That came into sharp focus earlier this year when GPs had to quickly adapt to deliver healthcare differently, with remote consultations offered for more routine problems to help keep patients and staff safe.

Dr Lunan, who attended East End Primary and Elgin Academy before going on to study medicine at Aberdeen University, said: "I wanted to accept this MBE on behalf of all general practitioners and their teams across Scotland, who have been working so hard over the last few months to keep vital services going for our patients.

"Working as a GP in one of the most deprived areas in Scotland, I am also acutely aware of how difficult this pandemic has been for the most vulnerable in our society, and take the opportunity to raise more awareness of the challenges they face, and why the NHS needs to be at its best where it is needed the most."

Dr Lunan now lives in Dunbar but regularly returns to her Elgin home town to visit family and friends.

On behalf of the RCGP Scotland, she thanked patients across the country for their support and understanding during what has been a stressful and uncertain time for many.

And she said she has never been prouder to be a GP, adding: "Much of the work we do is hidden, undocumented, low profile.

"Many of us are exhausted, but the resilience and empathy that has been demonstrated by our profession during this period has been incredible.

"I want to thank everyone working on the frontline for all that they have done, and all that they will do in the difficult months ahead."

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