A STOURBRIDGE’S Lion Health surgery has said farewell to two popular GPs.

Dr Paul Farley and Dr Steve Berwick have both retired from general practice after together providing more than 50 years of caring for the people of Stourbridge and the surrounding areas.

The surgery’s practice manager Cathryn Bateman said: “Both are extremely popular doctors offering commitment and professionalism to patients and colleagues alike.

"We will miss them hugely and wish them a long, happy and healthy retirement.

“We are sure they have many new adventures to come.”

She said Dr Farley, however, will not be having too much of a break as he plans to support the practice with medical student teaching, passing on his experience to trainee doctors.

She added: “It is no secret that there is a national GP recruitment crisis. Seven years ago with 30,000 GPs in post, a target of 36,000 GPs was set by the Government, we now have 27,800 in post nationally, so we are very short of doctors, and attracting young doctors into primary care is very challenging with all the career choices they currently have.

“At Lion Health we are planning to replace their clinical sessions with both GPs and the expansion of our highly skilled primary health care team, to ensure our population get the help and advice they need.”