Doctor 'a friend to patients'

Now, 39 years on, the doctor believes medicine has changed out of all recognition - as has Handsworth Grange Medical Centre, which now boasts four GPs, two nurses, 20 staff and about 7,000 patients.

But one thing that has not altered in that time is his skill, dedication and compassion, according to secretary Maria Barwick who has worked with him for 26 years.

And staff and patients alike will miss him as he prepares to begin his retirement.

Maria said: "He is such a good doctor and such a good boss. I've known him and his family for such a long time - he is irreplaceable. A lot of the patients are very upset and have tried to persuade him to stay.

"He does go that extra mile; in the early days, he would sometimes work 24 hours-a-day. From reading the well-wishing cards, a lot of people see him not just as a doctor but as a friend."

Dr Shaikh, who is originally from Pakistan, completed a post-graduate diploma in medicine in London before taking his first job in Sheffield.

He then worked in Doncaster, Liverpool and Newcastle before returning to Sheffield.

When he opened the practice on October 1, 1968, The Star ran a feature on him because he was one of the first Asian doctors in the city.

Dr Shaikh, of Riverdale Road, Ranmoor, said: "I feel very sad. I've had a long and happy association with the practice, staff and patients, and I think it's such a lovely city.

"I feel very accepted by my patients ... many have been very upset. When I first worked in Sheffield the people were very good to me, they accepted me and that was instrumental in me setting up here and it's worked out very well."

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