Caring family doctor dies aged 93

A highly-respected former doctor of the '˜old school' has died at the age of 93.
Dr WrightDr Wright
Dr Wright

Dr Derek Wright was popular across the area working many years at Thursby Road practice as an assistant, partner and senior partner in the company of well-known doctors Ronnie McGeorge, Margaret Tate, Arvind Limaye and Swarmy Narayana.

He retired from general practice in 1982 but continued to work in the medical profession in the geriatric department at Burnley General Hospital.

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Paying tribute to his father, his son Paul Wright said: “He will be rememebered for being an old-fashioned doctor who would stay up all night with an expectant mother when she went into labour.

“He would take it upon himself to visit his patients if they were admitted to hospital. It was said that he was so well trusted that keys were left at the practice by families so that he could let himself into houses when somebody was elderly or unwell.

“Such was his caring nature, it was his custom to visit his elderly patients on Christmas morning.

Dr Wright was born in Preston in 1922 and moved to Prestwich where his father worked at the psychiatric hospital. He attended Stand Grammar School and qualified from Manchester Medical School in 1947.

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He married Joyce in 1949 and worked in general practice in Todmorden before moving to Victoria Hospital as house surgeon before being offered a post as a GP at the practice of Dr Courtney and Rainford in Thursby Road.

Dr Wright was a member of Burnley Rotary Club for more than 60 years.

He leaves his wife Joyce, son Paul, daughter Phillipa and five grandchildren.