History of the Practice

The origins of the Practice can be traced back to 1927, when Dr J Bernstein was in practice at Ribbleton Avenue.  Dr Lyon Blair lived on the premises in Ribbleton and was also a Partner in the Practice.  Dr Blair was lost at sea in 1941, when his ship 'The Mainstee' was sunk.

Another Partner, Dr Bridge, opened a Branch Surgery in 1927 at Plungington Road.  Later Dr Bridge built a house on Parklands Drive and this became the local surgery for his Fulwood patients.  Dr Bridge retired in 1947 and Dr Cooper bought the house and the Practice in Parklands Drive.  Dr Friend joined him in 1948, just before the start of the NHS.

In 1967 the Plungington Road Surgery and the Parklands Drive Surgery were united and transferred to the present site at Lytham Road when Dr Margaret Taylor joined the Practice.

The present Surgery was built on the site of Larch House, a fine and imposing gentleman's residence from the early Victorian era.  The cellar of this house was exposed during the building of the last extension in 1991 and the old stones at the front of our Surgery were part of the house and excavated during the building work.

Dr Cooper retired in 1976 and worked as a Medical Officer on board ship in the Falklands War, he still lives in Parklands Drive.  Dr Taylor retired in 1981 and was actively working as a doctor in Preston until recently.  Dr Friend retired in 1983 and, following the death of his wife, emigrated to Australia, where he continued to work for many years, before retiring again.

Dr Irvine joined the Practice in 1971 and retired in 2000, after many years developing the premises and services available.

Dr Raymond Chesworth joined the Partnership in 1980, Dr John Wignall in 1981, Dr Alison Parson in 1980, Dr Henry Carter in 1990 and Dr Sarah-Jane Hambleton (previously Heath) in 2000. 

In August 2006, after almost 26 years at Lytham Road Surgery, Dr Wignall left to pursue a career as a single handed Family Practitioner in Newfoundland, Canada and Dr Deborah J. Clift joined the Partnership.  Then in 2006 two part-time Doctors joined the Practice; Dr Alison Palmer and Dr Dominic Lakeland.

We have seen many changes in the NHS, at all levels of involvement, from political and Government directives, central and local.  New ideas have come and gone and one is reminded of the 'Fundholding System', which lasted for only 10 years.  The present Partners at the Surgery will continue in their endeavours to meet the changing needs of an evolving NHS and provide the service and facilities necessary for the efficient delivery of health care in the 21st Century.