PRACTICE HISTORY

The surgery

This is a brief history of the development of the Lavender Hill Group Practice.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the practice belonged to Dr. Hayman, 'a real gentleman', according to some of his old patients who still remember him over fifty years later. He was joined in the 1950s by Dr. 'Johnny' Johnson, who drove a large Daimler around the district and delivered babies at home. When Dr. Hayman retired in the 1960s, Dr. George Litewski joined 'Johnny' and they practised together for twenty-five years.

In 1976, their old shop-front surgery was demolished by the council, and a new two-doctor surgery was built at 100 Lavender Hill. They had open surgeries with no appointment system and no other staff except one devoted receptionist, Mrs. Bridie Connolly. They knew their patients well, and provided old-fashioned personal care.

In 1983 Dr. Catherine Kroll joined the practice, and in 1984, Dr. Simon Freeman, when Dr. Johnson retired. Then, a practice nurse and manager were appointed, and the practice was allowed to take on a fourth doctor, Dr. Susan Robinson. Dr. Paul Rogers replaced George Litewski on his retirement in 1991. The purpose-built two-doctor surgery was now far too small, and it took ten years to achieve the move into the converted church hall at 19 Pountney Road in June 1996. Meanwhile, we had acquired a second nurse, and another partner, Dr. Jeremy Gray. Doctor Paul Rogers left the practice in September 1998 to pursue other interests. We appointed Dr. Helen Lucas who joined us in February 1999, and Dr. Henrietta Brook, who became a partner in July 2000. At this time we took on the list of patients from Dr John Dunwoody who had recently retired. In April 2002 we became a PMS practice and were joined by a new partner, Dr. Ed Barnes. In 2003 Dr Hung Tran and Dr Rachel Westwick started work as regular part time GPs with the practice. In September 2004 we took on a list of patients from retiring Dr Sita Fernando, and have appointed Dr Laura Freeman as a new partner to start in 2005.

The practice was computerised in 1992, using the EMIS medical system. We did not become a fund-holding practice, but since Battersea Practices as a whole have been meeting together for more than ten years, we are well placed to influence the development of our local Primary Care Trust. We are a PMS practice and partners are on the Professional Executive Committee of the PCT.

We have been teaching medical students for some years and from time to time they may be present in consultations. Dr. Freeman, Dr. Gray and Dr Kroll are GP Trainers and the practice trains GP Registrars. Registrars are experienced doctors in their last year of training in general practice, before becoming GP Principals. In 2004 we had 2 registrars together for the first time.

Dr. Gray has formed the Battersea Research Group, and is looking into cardiovascular risks in our local population, which will, in turn, inform future purchasing decisions. He has published papers in the BMJ (British Medical Journal).

Since we have moved to our new premises in 1996 we have already done some rebuilding. We opened our new consulting rooms in December 2003.We have been able to expand services to include minor surgery, counselling, physiotherapy and drug counselling.

More recently we have started a patient participation group and annual patient surveys so that our patients views can inform our decision making. We are involved in practice based commissioning.