Popular Swansea GP Jim York, who helped to set up the city’s out-of-hours service, died on January 3, 2008.

Dr York, who had been a GP in Brynhyfryd since 1993, died following a short illness in Australia, where he emigrated four years ago. He was 43.

He had a key role in building up Swansea’s out-of-hours GP service, which helped to turn around patient care by allowing doctors to share clinics and offer round-the-clock care.

The system has proved a success at a time when other privately run out-of-hours systems have come under fire for the standard of care.

As well as his role in setting up the out-of-hours service, Dr York was a well-liked and respected GP.

Rhydian Jones, a friend and former colleague at Brynhyfyd Surgery, said Dr York had made a major impact during his work in the city.

Dr Jones said: "Jim made a huge contribution to the health service and patient care in Swansea. The out-of-hours service he helped establish is still providing care for families across Swansea, and is a lasting legacy to his commitment to improve patient care.

"He had a wonderful rapport with his patients. Many of them were very sad to see him leave Brynhyfryd Surgery, where he had practised for many years."

Outside work, the GP was passionate about golf, judo and rugby, and played regularly for both Swansea Uplands and BP Llandarcy RFC.

In 2003, Dr York emigrated to Australia to run a medical centre in Kingscliff, (corr) New South Wales, but he will be missed by friends and those who worked alongside him in Swansea.

Dr Jones said that, for Dr York, medicine was more than just a job and he would be sorely missed.

"For Jim medicine was not a profession or a job, it was a calling," he said.

"He always went out of his way to help people, which they greatly appreciated. Many of his patients became friends and he will be sadly missed."

He is survived by his wife Sarah, and three children Megan, Gareth and Ellen.