AN award-winning Hampshire doctor has retired after a 40-year career in which she trained generations of junior medics.

Dr Gill Turner was a consultant physician in community geriatric medicine at the Lymington New Forest Hospital, which is run by the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

She was recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Geriatrics Society as well as being nominated for an NHS Parliamentary Award.

Daily Echo: Dr Gill Turner spent much of her career striving to improve health services for older patientsDr Gill Turner spent much of her career striving to improve health services for older patients (Image: PA)

Dr Turner spent much of her early career specialising in Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition that causes shaking, stiffness, and other symptoms.

She chaired a branch of the Parkinson's Society and contributed to its work nationally.

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A Southern Health spokesperson said Dr Turner also made a major contribution to the British Geriatrics Society over a nine-year period from 2012.

"She influenced national policy as lead author for the Fit for Frailty documents, a blueprint for managing frailty for clinicians as well as those commissioning services for older people.

"Gill has trained generations of junior doctors, inspiring many to become geriatricians or to work within the field of Parkinson’s disease."

Daily Echo: Dr Gill Turner spent much of her career striving to improve health services for older peopleDr Gill Turner spent much of her career striving to improve health services for older people (Image: PA)

Prof Adam Gordon, president of the British Geriatrics Society, added: "Gill Turner has been a passionate advocate for the care of older people throughout her career.

"She believes that older people deserve the best that modern healthcare can deliver.

"Gill has worked passionately to deliver this through her role in developing and leading training for doctors and other healthcare professionals.

"Her recent work in measuring the impact of the care we deliver is pivotal. It will help us to identify when and where good care is delivered, and work to improve things where it is not.

"Gill’s impact in Wessex and across the UK cannot be overstated.

"She leaves our NHS, beleaguered as it is, in much better shape to serve the patient group that use it the most - older people. We are in her debt and will remain so for many years to come."

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Dr Steve Tomkins is Southern Health’s chief medical officer.

He said: "Gill’s training of students and junior staff has had a really positive knock-on effect with a wide number of patient groups, and she will be sorely missed by all those who have had the benefit of working and learning from her."

Based at Tatchbury Mount, Calmore, Southern Health provides a wide range of physical and mental health services.