Notes on discussion with Dr Richard Buckle 14/05/14

Tickhill medical services post WW2 REV 1

At the end of WW2 most GP’s worked alone. In Tickhill Dr Coutts Wood had a surgery at his home “Renong” in Westgate (named after the Malaysian tin mine that provided the funds for the original owner to build it). This house had a speaking tube from the outside to Dr Coutts Wood’s bedroom for the use of patients wishing to summon the doctor at night! Dr Quigley, followed later by Dr Redfern, had a practice in Bircotes and the two practices gave some cover to each other on an informal basis.

The present Tickhill and Colliery Practice was formed in 1961 when Dr Kelly joined Drs Coutts Wood and Redfern as the original partners. There were about 4500 patients. The first Tickhill Surgery on its present site was a single storey building opened in about 1962 owned by the partners (Partners have to buy in to the Practice when they join). It was built on land bought from Timothy Whites and Taylors. This land was part of the burgage plot of the shop that fronts onto the Market Place which had existed as a pharmacy or druggist for many years.  The Bircotes surgery was housed in converted cycle sheds at Harworth Colliery rented from the NCB. The practice remained there until 2007 when it moved to the new health centre in Bircotes which it shares with other practices and services.

In the mid 1960’s the Government published a GP Charter which encouraged the growth of group practices with “fit for purpose” facilities. This enabled the two practices to join together formally and upgrade the Tickhill premises. There was a further significant upgrade of Tickhill surgery in 1979.

In addition to the initial partners, other partners who have played major roles in the development of the Practice include Dr Richard Buckle, the late Dr Peter Cook, Dr David Fearns, Dr Ian Saunders, Dr Veronica Sutherland and Dr. Deborah Wythers. The present partners (2015) are Drs Saunders, Pande, Kumari and Collins.

Since its formation other health care professionals including health visitors, midwifes, district nurses and later physiotherapists and counsellors have worked with the practice greatly expanding the services that the practice provides. These attached staff are not employed by the practice. Other staff; receptionists, secretaries, some nurses and health care assistants are employed directly by the Practice.

The practice covers most of Tickhill and about a third of Bircotes/Harworth. There are currently about 10,000 patients.

Since the war various immunisation and vaccination programmes have virtually eliminated many once common childhood diseases such as Polio, Measles, German Measles and Whooping Cough. TB was also wiped out although there are now some signs of it returning. Pneumoconiosis (miners’ lung disease) which was common locally in the 1950’s was reduced by improved health measures in mines and will be eliminated by the closure of the mines themselves. More common serious illnesses nowadays are cancer, heart and liver disease some related to modern lifestyles and an ageing population.

The opening of The Doncaster Women's Hospital in 1969 had a positive influence on maternal and child health in Tickhill. Similarly the increased provision of domiciliary social services and care homes helped the lot of the elderly, this provision helped to mitigate the loss of the extended family as the demographic of Tickhill changed from a rural community to a more mixed population with family members spread out nationally.

19/05/14

Updated 02/03/15.