Dr Saad Al-Dubbaisi, a GP from Greater Manchester, has become the eighth to die with Covid-19.
The 59-year-old is also the seventh GP to die who was of a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background.
Dr Al-Dubbaisi, who was lead partner at the Garden City Medical Centre in Bury, died yesterday (3 May) at Salford Royal Hospital.
Originally from Iraq, Dr Al-Dubbaisi graduated from the University of Baghdad in 1983.
NHS Bury CCG chair Dr Jeff Schryer said: ‘It is with great sadness to hear the news that one of our GPs in Bury, Dr Saad Al-Dubbaisi, has sadly passed away after being very poorly for a number of weeks.
‘Dr Al-Dubbaisi was a much loved, compassionate and experienced GP. He lived and worked in Bury, and was a popular and caring member of our general practice community.
‘Dr Al-Dubbaisi cared for generations of the same families from his practice in Holcombe Brook for many years. He will be sorely missed by his work family and patients.
‘Our health and care staff are the people who put themselves on the frontline every single day, and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, children and the dedicated practice team at Garden City at this incredibly difficult time.’
Dr Al-Dubbaisi’s death comes a year after he was nominated for the Excellence in Primary Care Award by his local MP James Frith. NHS Bury CCG commended Dr Al-Dubbaisi for his ‘personalised care approach’, which it said had ‘an impact on the wider health and social care system’.
Last week, NHS England said GP practices should risk assess staff who are of BAME backgrounds, while PHE undertakes a review into why they seem to be ‘disproportionately’ affected by the virus.
Adjustments could include ‘working remotely or in a lower-risk area’, a letter sent to GP practices today from NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said.
