My GP has retired.

[TheGeorge]

He's a good fellow, and still lives nearby. He's a private, quiet individual, and at appointments he was always "Dr X" and I was "Mr Y". My question , now that he's no longer practising, is: if I chance to meet him in the street, is he "Dr X" or "Mr X"? A matter of etiquette or protocol . . .

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I think I would still carry on calling him Dr X just the way we were brought up

If he no longer wants to be called Dr X I am sure in a conversation he would say what he prefers or you could even ask him yourself x

[Turnipgirl]

Our surgery hasn't been the same since one of the senior partners retired back in January who was really nice and supportive when you went to see him!

Just call him Dr if you see him out and about!

[meadfoot]

My wonderful GP has just taken early retirement too and I am lost without her. She has been amazing. I doubt I will see her out and about, never did while she was my GP so we clearly dont frequent the same places, not even supermarkets.

She gave me a lovely hug when she left and we both had tears in our eyes. If I see her anywhere I would still address her as Dr B. She used her maiden surname in practice so guess she switched between both her single and married surnames depending on circumstances.

[Turnipgirl in reply to meadfoot]

There was a husband and wife gp practice I went to years ago and the wife used her maiden name at the practice!

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Turnipgirl]

Women normally qualify before they marry, so they are Dr X. That is on there certification. They may choose to call themselves Dr Y - after their husband's name - but that would be incorrect. Holding on to my maiden name has saved me a lot of strife over the years and why should my husband's name appear on concert programmes after all the years of my hard work? I am still an "old spinster" - NOT!

[Alison_L in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Where husband and wife doctors work together, it saves endless confusion to have a Dr X and a Dr Y rather than 2 Drs X

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Alison_L]

Not only that, but as one colleague said to me "Don't change your name; no-one will know who you are!"

[Alison_L in reply to MaggieSylvie]

LOL true

[gladliz in reply to Alison_L]

I know of at least one practice where the Drs were married and used the same surname. He was Dr 'Smith' and she was Mrs Dr 'Smith'

[meadfoot in reply to MaggieSylvie]

You know I so wish I had retained my own surname. At this late stage in my life I have informed my husband I am reverting to it. In fact I am quite aggrieved that I ever changed it. Why should I have done. My original name is who I am.

My uncle was really upset when his daughter qualified as a doctor under her name of Dr H, then promptly changed her name when she married to Dr S, it was quite a faff to do also. He said to her you have achieved your status as ‘you’ and have given your identity away. Some years later her husband left her for another woman. She is stuck with his name now because of their children. She hates being known by that name. Never give up your identity. I have told my husband and daughter I want my grave stone to bear my original surname.

[PinkKizzie]

Rules for etiquette - address a professional person by their title, i.e., Dr, Professor, Sir, etc., until invited to do otherwise. That's how it used to be but not sure if the younger generation would know this.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to PinkKizzie]

My Cardiologist addresses me by my first name, I address him by his.

When referring to him to his colleagues, I always use his professional title of Professor.

[Thanksnhs in reply to Milkfairy]

In my heart hospital everyone goes by there first name from the nurses to the surgeon's, I have to admit I find it strange even awkward at times as I'm of the generation that grew up calling everyone Mr, Mrs, Dr etc if I ever met my GP outside the surgery I would always address him as Doctor. Char

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Thanksnhs]

Yes, I remember in 1967, all my mum's doctors went by their first names, so it would be Doctor Michael, Dr Susan, etc.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Milkfairy]

'morning Milkfairy, thank you for your reply. It would appear using first names is quite common, however, I'm with Thanksnhs and of the same generation who find it awkward. Take care.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to PinkKizzie]

You have to do what feels comfortable for you.I will always use a person's professional title when I meet them for the first time.

With my Neurologist I say Dr. that feels right even though I have been seeing him for many years.

However, I see my Cardiologist 3 times a year, he comes to see me everytime I am in hospital, he's been my Cardiologist for many years, so my relationship with him is different.

[Baxterburger]

I'd say Dr - it's earned respect. Unless he says just call me "first name".

[Yogi1950s]

The fact that he has retired has no effect whatsoever on his qualifications and therefore his title when being addressed.......

[Murderfan58]

I always just said hello meeting my retired GP and always asked after his family. He did the same . We never mentioned names. And our encounters where friendly.

[MoretonCross]

Always "Doctor" until he says otherwise.

[Nelson71]

I think Dr would be the correct address if it makes you feel comfortable otherwise you wouldn’t ask the question. My boss at my old firm was ex military Captain and we addressed as such. One of my team was also ex Army and obviously as discipline is so engrained first time he was introduced to the Capt he saluted, at work 😂. He just said it was an automatic reflex so I think Dr would be best

[ronnyharry]

How can you tell, they all seem to have retired😎

[Turnipgirl]

Many years ago when I was a little girl I was out with my father and we had seen my woodwork teacher out and about and I had said to him Hi Sir as you would do at school and my father had laughed!

Many years ago I was laughed at by my father when we had gone out to lunch with Grandpa and I had asked for a cup of tea at the restaurant after lunch!

[Qualipop in reply to Turnipgirl]

WHenever I see my ex doctor I still call him DR. I live in the area where I first started teaching and still get 50 year olds coming up to me and calling me miss- "You used to teach me Miss". They were 7 yr old when I taught them so I haven't a clue who they are but I Obviously haven't changed that much.

[Alison_L in reply to Turnipgirl]

I'm still in touch with my school music teacher (1972-79!), and still find it unnatural to call her by her first name rather than Miss

[wischo]

I call my GP by his first name and he calls me the same. When refering him to one of his staff or a medical person I refer to him as Dr.

[Schora1]

I think he remains as Doctor. As that is his title, but not 100% sure

[Fministry]

hi, if you referred to him as Dr X then this is likely to be more comfortable for both of you as he knew you in a professional capacity. The other thing is that even when GPs retire they still keep the Dr title. If he wishes to change that to you using his first name, I’m sure he would say.

[JaneX2021]

Definitively Dr, unless he says otherwise. He still has the qualification, even if he no longer does a job that requires it.

[Bingofox007]

he has retired from general practice but still has a pHD in medicine therefore remains Dr. The only thing changed is his employment status. I hate having a new gp when you’ve both got to know each other, often very personally! Take care 🦊x

[Smitty1956]

Hi, TheGeorge,

I am of the generation (BabyBoomer) that generally prefers to give someone with a title the respect of using that title when speaking with him/her. However, having said this, I also feel that much of that depends on your personal comfort level.

I earned my doctorate many years ago, and I was always called doctor X by all of my students and colleagues. Now, I am retired, and I would feel comfortable with either form of address.

If you happen to bump into your retired doctor, I am almost positive that s/he will be pleased to see you regardless of title used to address him or her. Sometimes, it is nice to just be fondly remembered. 😊