When she was at school, Isabel Scougal became fascinated with how the human body worked and wanted to do something in a caring role which made a difference to people.
She never thought she would be good enough to be a doctor so deliberated over other professions such as physiotherapy – then thought, why not medicine?
Her first six months were spent at the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary which she recalls as hard work but one of the best six months of her life.
Dr Scougal says the older people were really nice people to treat and she enjoyed getting to know them as people as well as patients. She retired recently after more than 30 years’ NHS service, many of which were spent improving care, treatment services for older people.
She now plans to pursue her other main interest, gardening. Included in her retirement gifts from colleagues was a lilac tree and she is looking at courses being run by the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
Also on her wish list is a visit to her brother, nephew and niece in America.
