Ron retires and heads to Nepal

Dr Ron Stout, who is retiring as a clinical oncologist and heading to Nepal, with his successor Dr Laura Pemberton (centre, right)

Cancer doctor plans to open clinic

A FOND farewell was given to a cancer doctor at the Royal Oldham Hospital who is using his retirement to set up a clinic in Nepal.

Dr Ron Stout (59) has been a clinical oncologist and medical director of Christie Hospital for the past 16 years.

As part of his work for the leading cancer hospital in Manchester, he has run a weekly oncology clinic at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Dr Stout, who became a consultant in 1981, has treated thousands of residents during his time in the borough.

But now his sights are set further afield and he is planning to head to Nepal with his wife, Susan, to set up a clinic.

The grandfather-of-two, who lives in Didsbury, said: “I’m retiring now because my wife and I thought we’d like to still be fit and well enough to do something different.

“My wife’s parents used to go there when they retired from the health service, and we have visited before.

“I also completed a charity trek to the base camp at Mount Everest for Christie’s two and a half years ago.

“My wife and I are hoping to visit the country for a series of two to three month stints.”

During his time at the Royal Oldham, Dr Stout has seen major advances in the treatment of cancer.

These include increased site specialisation for treatments, shorter waiting times for radiotherapy treatment, and more treatments combining surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He says more changes are yet to come, especially with the opening of the new radiotherapy centre in Oldham at the end of the year.

Friends and colleagues, including his successor Dr Laura Pemberton, joined Dr Stout for a retirement buffet at the Royal Oldham Hospital where he was presented with cards and gifts.

Dr Stout said: “Cancer treatment is evolving all the time so there is never a right time to go.

“But I’m ready for a change.

“It’s always difficult to go because you have built up good working relationships with people, but it’s quite exciting.

“I’m sure I’ll call back in when the new centre is open.”