NEW YEAR HONOURS: Selkirk doctor gets OBE for services to general practice

Dr John Calum Macdonald Gillies becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to general practice.

Born in North Uist, Dr Gillies moved to Selkirk in 1996 after a distinguished career and worked for the 16 years in until he retired from clinical practise in 2012. During the latter part of this time he was working as a GP trainer.

Dr Gillies is the depute director of the Scottish School of Primary Care. He was the chair of the Scottish Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) from November 2010 to November 2014. During his time as chairman he delivered a petition to the office of First Minister, signed by 21,000 Scots calling for further resources to be put towards general practice.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying in medicine in 1975, Dr Gillies travelled to Africa, working as a district medical officer in Ntcheu District Hospital, Malawi for 3 years. He gained his membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in 1978.

Dr Gillies returned to the UK and trained in general practice, gaining his Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) in 1985. From 1985 he worked as a GP principal in Glenluce, Wigtownshire, before moving to Selkirk.