I would like to reflect on the Peter Robinson who I knew as a colleague in general practice, and as a visiting medical officer at Deniliquin Hospital.
I first met Peter in October 2007 as a VMO at Deniliquin Hospital.
I spent several months working with him in his GP practice in 2008.
I worked alongside him at Deniliquin Hospital from 2008 onwards in his roles as a GP, a rural generalist, and as a GP obstetrician and GP anaesthetist.
Peter was a very skilled proceduralist.
I watched him effortlessly undertake anaesthetic and obstetric procedures with great skill.
His obstetric epidural procedures, his general anaesthetics, and his obstetric procedures were performed at a high level of competence.
Peter was particularly known for his skills in using the obstetric ventouse for assisting delayed labours.
He was immensely respected by the midwives at Deniliquin Hospital for his judgement, for his procedural skill, and for his patient-centred approach.
As a rural generalist, Peter brought great perspective and wisdom on complex clinical matters.
He was admired by his patients as a wise and disinterested counsellor.
Peter was greatly looked up to and respected by the junior doctors (myself among them) whom he mentored over the years.
One of his junior doctor colleagues spoke to me (last week) about his kindness and care.
I spent a wonderful month working with Peter in January and February 2008, when his long term GP partner, Dr Taras Mikulin was away.
Peter's advice to me on clinical questions was always so sound, and grounded in a wider perspective. He always took a relaxed and unhurried approach to issues, but of course balanced this with decisive action in emergencies.
Peter Robinson was the reason I decided to settle in Deniliquin in 2008 when I was looking for a place to practice as a rural GP.
He was the epitome of the now fading era of the classic country GP.
Vale Peter. Requiescat In Pace
Yours etc.
Dr Ian Dumbrell
20°C