After 23 years of dedicated service, Dr Kerry Thomas, along with his wife and one of our lovely nurses, Nicki, will retire at the end of the month. Dr Thomas has written a farewell note to his patients.

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I wanted to take a moment to share some important news about Fifth Avenue. I will be turning 66 soon and have decided to retire at the end of March this year. My wife Nicki, who works as a nurse here, will also be retiring at the same time.

This has not been an easy decision, as I have truly loved working at Fifth Avenue and will deeply miss both my patients and colleagues. However, the time has come for me to move on and explore other things in life. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as a GP, and I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed. Since joining the practice in 2002, 23 years seem to have flown by in the blink of an eye.

I have been incredibly fortunate to care for such a wonderful group of people who have taught me so much over the years. Visiting doctors who have covered for me in my absence often commented on how lovely my patients are — one even remarked, “Your patients ask how I am doing!” That kindness and warmth will stay with me. While I may not miss the long hours, the paperwork, or the nights spent doing consultations in my sleep, I will certainly miss the meaningful connections I have built with you all.

I leave knowing that my patients will be in excellent hands with Dr Cameron Hughes, who will be taking over my patient care. Cameron first joined us about seven years ago as a hospital doctor and returned to work with us 18 months ago after completing his training and gaining experience at another practice. From day one, we knew he would be a great addition to the team, and we were thrilled when he chose to make his future here. I have every confidence that you will receive excellent care from him. You don’t need to take any action, our administrative staff will ensure a smooth transition.

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you all for allowing me to be part of your healthcare journey. You have been incredibly kind to me, and I will truly miss you. That being said, this is not a complete goodbye — I plan to return for occasional relief work later in the year, so I may still see some of you again.