Waterhouses Practice began in 1852, when a Dr Hall moved from Alton to work here. Successive generations of family doctors including Alfred, Tony and Geoff Hall practised at Lea House until, in 1972, Dr Geoff Hall built a new surgery on the present site in Waterfall Lane. Following his retirement from single-handed general practice in 1978, Dr Geoff Hall was succeeded by Dr Bruce Richardson and joined by Dr Vincent Cooper in 1981.
In 1990, the partners purchased the Waterhouses surgery building (previously rented from Dr Hall) and embarked on a major programme of extension and modernisation to accommodate more staff and greatly enhanced services.
The NHS has always regulated GP numbers strictly and getting approval for a second doctor in 1981 had been a battle. To provide continuity of care with two doctors and, at that time, no 'out of hours' service was difficult so, in 1991, we were joined by Dr Sunil Angris to form a three doctor Practice, each working 2/3 time for the practice and having additional employment outside the practice. Dr Bruce Richardson retired from the NHS in 1997 and was replaced by Dr Dawn Moody. Dr Vince Cooper retired from the Practice in 2008, and was replaced by Dr Majid Artus.
2003 saw a further change in the practice, with a new contract for 'Personal Medical Services' with the Primary Care Trust, a means of developing new services for the rural area and managing practice resources in the most effective way.
In 2009 Drs Dawn Moody and Majid Artus left the Practice to pursue other interests and since that date Dr Sunil Angris has been the GP Principal supported by our Salaried GP, Dr Kate Chadwick.
We had major changes at the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 with Dr Kate Chadwick leaving to spend more time with her family in October 2013 and Dr Sunil Angris retiring in December 2013 after 23 years at the Practice. As from January 2014 - we now have a new partnership with Dr Usha Tiguti as Lead GP, who came from the Tean Surgery. We also have the services of Dr Vamsi Tiguti (Dr Usha's husband) who will run a separate surgery one session a week and who has a special interest in musculoskeletal problems.
We are pleased to have close links with Keele Medical School and thanks to those patients who agree to taking part in any research questions or studies.
