NHS director Bob Shorter retires

Jul 3 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A DIRECTOR of Primary Care in Lanarkshire retired last week after 35 years' service with the NHS.

Bob Shorter, who lives with his wife Hilary in Strathaven, joined the NHS in 1973 and spent the last 14 years with NHS Lanarkshire, where he was appointed director of primary care in 1994.

The 57-year-old, who is a keen mountaineer, has no intentions of taking life easy.

He said: “I am looking forward to retiring, albeit with some trepidation. I have thoroughly enjoyed my career and all my working life I've been lucky to have had some great colleagues who have kept me right.”

He has made some great friends and said that he would miss them all.

He added: “My favourite pastime is mountaineering and have already climbed all the Munros.

“Now I’m going to spend some more time in the Southern Uplands climbing the mountains, classified as Donalds, and also the Corbetts.”

Bob, who has two sons Michael and Alan, will also be spending more time with Hilary at their cottage in Wester Ross.

His colleagues at Strathclyde Hospital, Motherwell, say they will miss his expertise, but also his sense of humour.

Planning and development manager Elspeth Wright, said: “Bob is a tremendous colleague with very wide knowledge and experience within the health service.

“His contribution to many aspects of patient care is well recognised.

“His sense of humour, charm and ability to share, will be missed by all his colleagues.”

Colleagues gathered at Strathclyde Hospital’s planning department for a special farewell lunch.

At the lunch, his fellow workers presented him with a cheque with which he plans to purchase a painting as a commemoration of his time as a planning manager and director of Primary Care.