A local GP surgery has praised its ‘unsung hero’ – a doctor who has come out of retirement to work for free during the COVID-19 pandemic - as part of national volunteers week.

Dr Tim Foster came forward in the early stages of the response to the new virus, when he learned that his old practice was facing difficulties, with several staff members off sick, or having to self-isolate.

Dr Foster is still working at St Clements Surgery in Winchester even now.

He has been retired for several years, but wanted to come back and help out in the community where he is so well known.

Fay Johnson, Practice Operations Manager, St Clements Surgery, said: “Dr Tim Foster has been our unsung hero at St Clements, supporting the surgery since the start of the lockdown.

“He quietly gets stuck into outstanding telephone appointments and also helps with duty calls too. Nothing is too much trouble and at a drop of a hat he has covered when we have been short. He is too modest to want to take any credit, but he is amazing and we are all very grateful for his dedication.”

Dr Foster has been involved in a full range of duties at the practice, including face-to-face appointments and routine surgeries, to help people who needed medical care.