“ It ’ s a privilege and an honour to be involved with people on such a personal level , and to have them put their trust in you .”
Interview
“ It ’ s a privilege and an honour to be involved with people on such a personal level , and to have them put their trust in you .”
Michele being interviewed at work
By this time , she was in a long-term relationship with fellow medic Andreas Lehmann , who she had met when both were junior doctors at the Island ’ s St Mary ’ s Hospital in 1995 . Having conducted their relationship on long-distance basis for three years , she finally moved to Middlesbrough to be with him after she became pregnant . True to her gritty nature though , she carried on working 100 hours a week in Yeovil until the sixth month of the
Archie the Sproodle pregnancy , and then moved north to start their family life . Their firstborn , Dylan arrived in 1998 , to be followed three years later by a second son , Conor , and Michele says she enjoyed her time off as a mother , living in a variety of locations including a primitive cottage in the Derbyshire Peak District of Whaley Bridge .
Island Return
Like many people who have grown up on the Island , Michele always expected to return – and her chance came in 2004 , when she , Andreas and the boys relocated back here , and she began her longanticipated training as a GP . Her two-year training was at Sandown Medical Centre and Tower House in Ryde , and was followed by three years working at Sandown , and then a move to Tower House – this time as a partner . With her children by this time attending nearby Ryde School , she was able to perform the professional-domestic juggling act that so many mothers do . As she always expected , Michele finally found her passion in working as a family doctor . “ I adore being a GP ” she says . “ It ’ s a privilege and an honour to be involved with people on such a personal level , and to have them put their trust in you . “ Some people think of GP work as being about just coughs and colds , but in fact It ’ s an incredibly varied job – certainly never boring . Every case I see is totally different ”. The other aspect of her job that Dr Legg enjoys is the fact that , as a partner , the medical practice is also essentially her ‘ business ’. “ I ’ m incredibly proud of my surgery ” she says . “ Not that I ’ m suggesting we are always perfect - but because we have ultimate control over what we do , we ’ re always striving to do things better ”.
Dementia friendly
In particular , and in line with Michele ’ s special interest in dementia and older people ’ s health , her practice has worked towards making itself ‘ dementia friendly ’ – which has involved training all staff , including reception and admin as well as medical practioners , in dementia awareness . In addition , any environmental changes that are made , from installing new flooring or furniture to painting the walls , are done with dementia awareness . This has included avoiding shiny floorings , which some dementia sufferers can confuse with water , and even incorporating the proven dementia-friendly colour , pink . Dr Legg explained that Tower House ’ s resident “ Dementia Champion ”, care assistant Sam Poore , suggested changing her uniform to pink after reading research that suggested it calms and reassures people with dementia . The pink uniform was promptly adopted , along with dementia-friendly signage
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