A FAMILY doctor has hung up his stethoscope after 25 years serving the people of Islington – amid fears that Government changes will put too much pressure on GPs.

Dr Afzal Hossain, 53, the longest-serving partner at the Mildmay Medical Practice in Green Lanes, is taking early retirement – and 200 patients and colleagues turned out to wish him well.

Louisa Vargas, a receptionist at the practice, said: “He is very much loved and well known by hundreds – possibly thousands – of patients in the community and will be missed by all.”

Dr Hossain, who is planning to spend more time with his wife and four children, paid tribute to his hard-working frontline staff – but warned that Government changes to the NHS, in which GPs will become responsible for managing healthcare, would result in family doctors becoming cut off from patients.

He said: “The significant changes to the NHS will put a phenomenal amount of pressure on GPs to take on the management of the NHS.

“I am seeing four generations of patients but if I have to look at how to manage figures and budgets, that will take me away from patients and make us look at costs all the time.

“That will be very unfair on doctors.”