Litchdon Medical Centre
Landkey Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX32 9LL
UK

The History of
Litchdon Medical Centre

after information compiled by Dr. Alun Edwards
(partner from 1959 to 1993)

Updated 2003 by Dr John Miller

Litchdon Medical Centre has been in existence since at least 1844 when Dr A Dene lived in Litchdon Terrace in Barnstaple, Devon. It has been variously known as Litchdon Surgery, Litchdon House and, latterly, as Litchdon Medical Centre. The North Devon Infirmary (founded 1828) was situated in Litchdon Street, so it is probably no coincidence that a doctor should set up his plate nearby. Even in 1974 it was easy to pop across the road to see a patient, view an x-ray or talk with a consultant colleague. In the North Devon Journal's issue of 12th November 1925 there is a description of the Mayor Making ceremony of the time. One of the Litchdon Surgery doctors, Dr Dixey, was inaugurated Mayor. In his speech he mentions that the practice had been in the town for more than 100 years. In 1857 Dr Thomas Law and Dr Charles Gamble both practiced in Litchdon Street possibly separately at first but in 1878 they are recorded as being in partnership. At the time such a collaboration was very unusual.

The practice continued with two partners and the occasional assistant until the 1940's. Dr Dixey and Dr Michael Killard-Leavey were joined by Mr Mervyn Morel FRCS. When Dr Dixey retired Dr Rex King MD joined. All three partners were part time hospital doctors as well as GPs. Dr Killary-Leavey was the ENT surgeon, Mr Morel a general surgeon, and Dr King was a general physician. In 1955 Tom Forster joined as a fourth partner. He was a full time GP and soon developed the care of pregnant women and their children. After his death in 1959, Mr Morel was replaced by Dr Alun Edwards as another full time GP. He was told by colleagues in the town that he was joining a "very advanced practice" in that they employed a secretary, a nurse and a dispenser. It is probable that a dispenser of some sort had been employed for sometime, acting as receptionist and general factotum in addition to their other duties. In the 1930's Dr Dixey took a photograph of the dispenser at work, dropping the last minim into a bottle of medicine. This photo now hangs on the wall of the present dispensary in Litchdon House.

In 1965 the two partners in the Choweree practice moved over to join Litchdon Surgery. These were Eric Lindsay and Hugh Keatings. Plans were laid to expand the premises into the residential part of the building and in due course Tom Forster became the last partner to live "over the shop" when he moved to Shirwell in 1965. The most innovative alteration was the inclusion of a large treatment room for practice nurses. At about the same time began the attachment to the practice of health visitors, district nurses and midwives. These changes were made possible by the changes negotiated by the BMA under the heading of the New Charter.

Full advantage was taken of these new arrangements, and in 1975 the firm moved into the Health Centre in Vicarage Street. At the same time the practice in Bear Street moved in the same building but on a different floor. These long established rivals were fondly known as the "The Bears". By this time John Miller had become a partner to replace David Pengelly, who died in his thirties. Julian Turner joined soon after. By this time Vocational Training was in its infancy and the firm was recognised as a training practice in 1976. Elisabeth McElderry, who was one of the earlier trainees, replaced Eric Lindsay when he retired in 1978. Richard Beer, another trainee, became an additional partner in 1981. When Tom Forster also retired in 1985, David York Moore took over his patients and in 1986, Brian Malcolm followed in Hugh Keatings' shoes. Meanwhile two other trainees, Penny Smith and later Sally Hunt, became part time partners. Alun Edwards retired in 1993, and his place was filled by Mark Wood. Julian Turner was replaced by George Gardner in 2001.

In 1990 after ideas to buy the Health Centre and join with Bear Street had fallen through, the practice moved to a brand new site on the Landkey Road that had formerly been soda drink factory!

Like many practices in North Devon there was a successful period when we managed our own budget (fundholding).

Then in 1997 the redundant guest house next door was purchased and converted (namely Litchdon House) to provide additional consulting rooms including a minor operating suite and also space for Lloyds Pharmacy, Social Services and a chiropractor.

The practice since 1948 had always worked under GMS, but in 2002 a decision was made to change to PMS, thus enabling Gillian Daly to join as a salaried doctor.

Patients

During the time from 1959 the practice population has swelled from about 6,000 to, at one time, 16,000 although there has been a deliberate drop to 15,000 in recent years. The practice has covered not only Barnstaple but a wide rural area of about 10 miles diameter. For a short time we even had some patients at Simonsbath on Exmoor. For historical reasons there has been a tendency to have a large proportion of patients east of Barnstaple: Newport, Landkey and Swimbridge. One hundred years ago patient care was strictly limited to one patient/one doctor. This changed with duty rotas and in 1995 to the "Tarkadoc" out of hours co-operative.

Communication

If you know where to look on the left hand side of the porch of the old Litchdon House you can see the site of the speaking tube which went up to "The Doctor's Bedroom". Someone was sent round to the house and would whistle up the tube to wake the doctor and a message would be shouted up the tube. Some say that an aspirin could be dropped down the tube! However, the telephone took over to be helped later by pagers and recently by mobile 'phones, faxes, emails and the electronic superhighway!

The Premises

Our premises were purpose built in 1990 under the NHS "cost rent" scheme. The surgery is situated on the eastern edge of Barnstaple, and as such is easily accessible by car. There is free parking for 30 vehicles. The surgery is a 10 minute walk from the centre of town, and also has a dedicated bus stop served by the Landkey bus which runs regularly from the town centre.

Internally, the building features a comfortable and spacious single waiting area. There are eleven doctors consulting rooms, and a fully equipped treatment room on the ground floor. The first floor features health visitor and district nursing offices in addition to a large meeting room for professional and patient education. All essential areas, including dedicated toilet, are accessible to the disabled.

Litchdon House is an annexe that was added to the medical centre in 1998. Formerly, a guest house, it was extensively refurbished to provide additional services to our patients. Follow the link to view details of the on-site dispensary, Social Services outreach base, chiropractic clinic and surgical procedures that are provided from this exciting facility.