News / Island shocked by young doctor’s death
A POPULAR GP from the Glasgow area who was working as a locum on an island in Shetland for the summer was found dead in his cottage on Sunday.
Michael Irvine had been planning to work in the fishing community of Whalsay for the next few weeks having already enjoyed several spells of work on the island as well as Lerwick over the nine months.
The 34 year old single man was described as the most popular of the many locums the island has relied on since their last doctor returned to her home in Australia in 2009.
He was found by his landlady in a cottage rented by the local health board after he failed to respond to a call out to a patient on Sunday afternoon.
Police went to the island to investigate and on Monday afternoon released his name after his next of kin had been informed.
Inspector Eddie Graham said that enquiries were being made into Dr Irvine’s death and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
People who knew him said that the doctor had not been feeling well for a few days prior to his death, but no one had thought it was anything serious.
NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said: “We are very sad to have heard this news. Dr Irvine was a very well liked and respected colleague and our thoughts are firstly with his family at this time.
“We also understand this is a difficult time for our staff and the community and will be working closely to support them.”
Local community worker Maureen Stewart said: “Dr Irvine has been here several times over the past two years and he was the favourite of the locums. This time he was to be here for two months, which would have been the longest spell we have had one doctor in all that time.
“He was very, very popular and well liked. Everyone had just absolutely taken him to their hearts. This is such a terrible tragedy because everyone loved him so much.”
One islander said that the young man was very down to earth and had become a good friend during his time on the island.
He said that the GP was extremely fit and was regularly seen jogging, but added that he had told him he was not feeling very well over the few days before his death.
“He certainly said he was feeling a bit not too well, but you just put that to the back of your mind. Being a doctor you would think that he would be able to look after himself,” he said.
“For the short time that we have known him he’s been a good friend and a very caring doctor. He has been well liked and everyone was hoping that he would move in and take over the practice.”
Whalsay has a population of 1,100 and relies on a single handed GP to cover its health care needs.
Retired GP Brian Marshall, who moved to the island in the 1970s to run the practice, is working at the surgery to provide immediate health care needs following Dr Irvine’s death.
NHS Shetland said that they had appointed Dr Wilfred Treasure as permanent GP for the island who will start work on 31 October. Alternative locum arrangements are being put in place in the meantime.
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