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Dr Irene Bainbridge - Treasurer
Irene Bainbridge has been a member of the DDA from its early days. At that time she had her dispensing practice in North Essex and the big fear was the "loophole". "There was no political pull in those days and all we did was endless complaining, which was mostly counter-productive," she says. "The DDA has come a long way since incorporation in 1997 when it became a company with a proper constitution - which was much more difficult to achieve than it sounds."
Irene has found it to be a privilege to work with her DDA colleagues on the many issues which dispensing doctors have faced. "Now there is increasing consultation from Government and even - dare one say it - a groundswell of political support. The challenges never seem to ease and the Association’s work continues to expand in response. Yet our workforce is small, which may surprise many people. We urgently need more people who are dedicated to doctor dispensing to actively share the workload."
Since Irene retired as a principal, she has been working as a peripatetic sessional GP mainly in rural practices in her area, where she is constantly reminded of the value patients put on personal doctoring. Although she leads a many-faceted life with a husband and an expanding family, she remains committed to the DDA, helping to develop communications inside and outside the Association.