Brief History

Historical Background

The practice was created by the then Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Family Practitioner Committee in October 1988 to meet some of the increasing need for Primary Health care services in that part of the former old London Docks that lie south of the River Thames. This had been undergoing extensive redevelopment by the London Docklands Development Corporation from the mid 1980s. Initially the hope was that existing practices in the area would be able to cope with the increased workload by using the newly built Surrey Docks Health Centre as branch surgeries but by early 1988 the F.P.C. had decided that a new practice was required.

The Practice to the Present day

The practice was started by Dr. Patrick Holden in October 1988 with zero patients and practice numbers have climbed steadily over the years. Dr. Pamela Marrinan joined the practice in March 1993. Dr Phipp joined the practice in July 1998, although for family reasons relocated to Norfolk from July 2001. Dr Kerstin O’Connor joined the partnership on 1st July 2001, Dr Noel Baxter joined on 1st July, 2003 and Dr Sumeeta Dhir on 1st October 2011.

Staffing levels have gradually increased with the growth of the practice and there is a team of 14 administrative staff which includes the practice manager, 7 receptionists and 6 admin staff.

Geography of the Practice

The practice area used to extend from Tower Bridge in the west to Deptford in the east including the entire Rotherhithe peninsula. With the coming of the new GP contract the boundary has been pulled into the Rotherhithe peninsula only, although some of those long standing patients still remain on the list.

The practice is based in the Surrey Docks Health Centre, which is in the heart of the Rotherhithe peninsula and was opened in 1982. The Health centre is a single storey building with good wheelchair access and ample car parking. It backs onto the ecological park.

The practice shares the Health Centre with one other GP practice who uses it as a branch surgery. Other users of the Health Centre include community and NHS dentists, chiropodists and the Local Primary Care Trust’s health visitors.

Decisions are currently being made about the future of the building and it is possible that whole area including the current Health Centre will be re-developed.

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