DR Josephus Le Roux, better known as JJ, or the 'red eye' doctor at Bantry's SouthDoc Treatment Centre, has retired after 21 years of service.

Chances are that if you needed a doctor in the middle of the night, and you lived west of Rosscarbery, Ballineen or Ballingeary, it was JJ who was sent to sort you out. 

After recently finishing his final shift, it took just the tiniest bit of encouragement from his friend Dr David Hurley for JJ to allow a small tribute to appear in print.

Dr Le Roux didn't remember the night I had a severe allergic reaction to dairy and all parts of my body, from my toes to the top of my head, developed lumps that were the size of the old 50 pence pieces.

But what I remember was the almost instantaneous relief after Dr Le Roux administered a steroid shot.

Did I mention that he arrived within 20 minutes of the call being made to SouthDoc? Lifesaver!

David said JJ can sometimes come across as offhand or shy, which is due to a combination of his native South African accent and hushed tones.

'But JJ's cool and calm manner is exactly what you need in a crisis and everyone who has worked with him knows he's a big softie.

'He can take control of any situation, which is what you need, ​' said David​, who is speaking from experience.

'My wife, Therese, and I have particular reason to be grateful to JJ. When she went into precipitant labour with our second child, JJ was on hand to safely deliver Eve, who is now thirteen years old.

David explained that when SouthDoc began in 2001, GPs in West Cork shared a rota to cover the overnight or 'red-eye shifts' from midnight to 8am in Bantry and Bandon, whilst Castletownbere had its own arrangements. 

After a year or two, they each contributed to a fund to pay for a separate doctor to only work the night shifts.

When JJ moved from South Africa to Ireland to take over this role, his wife, Zoe, a chemist, took up a contract with Rowa Pharmaceuticals.

JJ typically worked five or six nights every week and only pulled back a little in the last year, or two, to cover four nights per week.

And instead of starting at midnight, his shifts began at 9pm​, and at 6pm on weekends or bank holidays.

Dr Le Roux did take the occasional break here and there to return to South Africa, but mostly he was the person who covered every weeknight, weekend, bank holiday and even Christmas.

It was David, not JJ, who said night shifts on SouthDoc can be a very lonely gig because most overnight treatment centres are run by a single doctor and driver who cater for medical care in the treatment centre, as well as visiting nursing homes, community hospitals, private houses, hotels and garda stations.

Throughout the entire Covid crisis, JJ kept the service going in spite of the restrictions, which is just one of the reasons why so many people from all over West Cork, myself included, are grateful to him for his unstinting service.

JJ's medical expertise, and his manner, allowed for the management of pain, suffering, distress and tragedy with experienced efficiency.

Now in his 75th year, JJ continues to be self-effacing.

He told The Southern Star: 'It was a great privilege to serve the people of West Cork. And it was an honour to serve all the doctors of West Cork too.

'They treated me very well. I have no complaints. The hours were long, but that is part of the job and, of course, you know that before you start.

'The pay was always very good. My relationships with my drivers were very good too. And the facilities in the new primary care centre in Bantry are excellent.

'It was very enjoyable and I am sorry that I have to go. It's not my decision. I would have stayed another year or two but my age is against me. If you are over 70 you can't renew your contract.'

Now that he has retired he said he has no plans to do anything for a while. After having a back operation​, a few years ago, JJ now uses a walking aid. He is joking when he says: 'I think I am worse than any patient I have to see.' But the plan nevertheless is to rest up for a bit.

With Zoe due to retire this summer, he said their intention is to return home to South Africa.

'We enjoyed our time here in West Cork very much. I believe it was a gift of God to make the right decision to come here.

'When I came to Ireland in 2003 I worked for six months in Nenagh Hospital in the casualty department. 

'I went home for one month and when I returned I worked for another month in Bandon before being appointed to the job in Bantry.

Initially, Dr Le Roux said he had considered working in the UK, where his eldest son is based, but the SouthDoc model suited him.

It meant that he didn't have a practice to run, staff to pay, or any administration.

'I just went in and worked my hours,' he said. Then I went home and had no worries​, or the kind of paperwork that comes with running a modern practice​. I was lucky to find the right job immediately.'