Over the past five years, our two practices have worked closer together by way of the Primary Care Network (PCN). Together, we have enjoyed developing and offering new services and collaborating on successful projects to provide better care for our patients.
This partnership is a significant step forward for both practices and our patient community. It represents, not just a merging of resources, but a fusion of our vision – to provide a responsive, innovative and flexible service for our patients. It will also help safeguard GP services for many years to come.
The merging of two established and resilient practices provide the opportunity to create a new organisation on a long term sustainable footing able to capitalise for patients the strengths and opportunities for improvement that come with scale whilst still supporting the fundamentals of general practice so valued by patients and the GP partners.
Blackthorn Health Centre History
There has been a GP partnership in this area since the 1920’s when Drs Pern, Turner and Bamber provided care for patients in Botley, Hamble, Netley Abbey, Bursledon and West End. Dr Turner originally practised at West Dene in Station Road, Netley Abbey, and after wartime service he became a single-handed GP with a branch surgery in St Andrews Buildings, Hamble.
He was joined by Dr Brian Foster in 1952. The practice moved to Blackthorn and a new partnership was formed with Drs Havard, Markham and Stanger in Woolston. When Dr Turner retired in 1973 he was succeeded by Dr David Wilson. The patient list size was 4,500 at the time.
In January 1981 a new Partnership was formed when Dr Hugh Laing joined Dr Brian Foster and Dr David Wilson.
In April 2006 the two sites in Hamble and Netley moved into the newly purpose-built Blackthorn Health Centre building off of Satchel Lane.
Following their GP Partner retiring, Blackthorn Health Centre oversaw Burseldon Surgery from January 2020. In October 2021 Bursledon Surgery formally merged with Blackthorn Health Centre.