General News
5 November, 2020
Retirement awaits Erika Sargeant and GP Neil Jackson
DR Neil Jackson will be hanging up his stethoscope in December after more than 35 years’ working as a general practitioner in Terang.
DR Neil Jackson will be hanging up his stethoscope in December after more than 35 years’ working as a general practitioner in Terang.
For the last 15 years, Dr Jackson has been treating patients at his practice, Civic Medical Terang, with the support of wife Jennifer.
Dr Jackson said the beginnings of his career had taken him far and wide prior to settling in Terang.
“I graduated in 1977 from Melbourne University,” he said.
“After some hospital work in Melbourne, the United Kingdom and Perth, I came to Terang.
“I have been here since 1985.”
After arriving in Terang, Dr Jackson said he found the region easy to live in, describing it as the best of both worlds between (being a rural community while also not isolated from needed services).
“In terms of natural resources and environmental features, it’s a very easy place to live in,” he said.
“Most services are easily accessed, whether they’re commercial or health services. Geelong and Warrnambool are very close by which have good services.”
Dr Jackson said throughout his decades of practice, the biggest changes to the medical landscape have been the diagnostics technology which has led to better health outcomes.
“There are much more precise ways of taking x-rays, much more accessible pathology tests and also the changes in the surgical and medical care, both through pharmaceutical and surgical techniques, which means patients are in hospital for much shorter lengths of time,” he said.
“There have been big changes in the way people look at care as we get older, with many more services trying to keep people in their homes for longer, which is a good thing for people but puts a lot of strain and stress on caring relatives as well.”
Dr Jackson said he did not have any specific retirement plans at this stage.
“Probably just getting to the end of November and then just taking a deep breath and seeing what is possible,” he said.
“We’ll have to wing it for a while I think with the way things are going at the moment, which is the same for many people.”
Dr Jackson said he would like to acknowledge the organisations and people he has worked with closely, particularly those at the May Noonan centre.
“They do a very demanding job with a lot of older and frailer people,” he said.
“Also the people at the Terang Hospital, who have provided a very good service over many years and to my previous colleagues that I’ve worked with.”
“They’ve all been very good to work with and very good to meet.
“I’d also like to acknowledge my wife, Jennifer, for the support she has given me in running the practice here in Terang for the last 15 years.”
