A DOCTOR who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for his patients for more than three decades has been crowned the national hero of healthcare.
Dr John Cormack was one of five finalists in the Daily Mail Health Hero awards 2014, all of whom were invited to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street last Thursday.
The 67-year-old, who has worked as a GP at Greenwood Surgery in South Woodham Ferrers for the past 35 years, said: "I didn't expect to win at all; it was a very strong field.
"In fact it was slightly embarrassing, because we were so sure that I hadn't won that I didn't bring any clothes for the television interview so I had to borrow some, but it was very exciting.
"It was very interesting and very pleasant to meet David Cameron. He gave us a lot of time and seemed genuinely interested in what we do.
"His advisers seemed interested but also concerned about what we told them, so I think we managed to get the right messages across to them."
Tales of the GP taking a widow and lifelong West Ham fan to watch a match in Southend, or springing a man from hospital to attend his golden wedding anniversary, are just two of the selfless acts for which he was nominated by patient Ian Gillard.
"He can't do enough for others. He's the sort of GP who opens the surgery on Saturdays to give an urgent blood test, and works bank holidays so his patients don't have to queue in A&E," said Ian.
But the 67-year-old hasn't always enjoyed such a positive relationship with the healthcare system in which he works, even going so far as to change his name by deed poll to Dr John Cormack the Family Doctor Who Works for the NHS For Free.
In January 2012 he was vocal in his criticism of the NHS budget for general practices, even investing more than £5,000 of his own money into Greenwood to keep it afloat.
And speaking to the Chronicle this week, it appears he still holds strong views.
"There's no budget for doctors, so we've began to use nurses as they cost less money to hire, but they still do a great job. I think other practices are beginning to follow this model we have started too," he said.
"The NHS is perfectly happy to line their own pockets but don't reward the truly hard-working people. So I will continue to carry on campaigning to end discrimination."
