A DOCTOR has described how much she will miss a town after leaving the surgery she practised at for more than 15 years.

Dr Arabella Onslow has left Market Street Medical Practice in Dalton after she started working in the town in 2004.

She paid tribute to her patients and local community who have ‘humbled me beyond words’ as she announced she was leaving to focus on promoting psychological health while remaining a GP.

Originally from Guildford in Surrey, the 50-year-old started as a junior doctor at Furness General Hospital, where she worked for three years before becoming a registrar GP in Dalton.

She said: “I have come to understand the people of Dalton through the many exchanges I have had over the years and this is what I will miss most about leaving.

“I have travelled with them through so many of their life journeys, felt part of their hope and healing and shared the burdens of their traumas and bereavements.

“The trust and openness offered to me has humbled me beyond words.

“Dalton is a unique, gentle place, with a diversity of spirits - despite the shared sense of community.

“I will miss being a part of that.

“Thank you Dalton, from the bottom of my soul, for taking me to your hearts and allowing me to be part of your lives.”

On her future plans, Dr Onslow said: “I’m exploring my options so I can continue as a practicing GP but find a way to educate services and agencies about the importance of trauma informed care and emotional physiology to deliver whole person health.

“I felt compelled to find the space for myself to work out how to solve this conundrum and find a way to increase understanding of this important aspect of health so leaving my beloved job became a sad but necessary decision.”

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Onslow joined other volunteers in Dalton and Barrow to produce homemade face coverings.

The Get Furness Masked group produced hundreds of coverings for care homes and businesses.