A move to the former Blacketts pub will mean more than just a change of premises for Darlington's Netherlaw Surgery, as Barry Nelson finds out.

IT is appropriate that the opening of a new GP practice in Darlington symbolises the end of an era. There used to be half a dozen doctors practising in Stanhope Road, Darlington, but with the closure of the Netherlaw Surgery at the end of this month, a tradition dating back for more than a century will finally end.

"We have simply out-grown our existing home. It is a lovely, airy building but it is no longer appropriate for 21st century general practice," says Dr Andrew Michie, one of five partners who will move quarter of a mile across the town to their new home in the former Blacketts pub in busy Bondgate.

After 80 years practising from a former Victorian villa, the doctors are moving to a refurbished former pub which virtually doubles their office space and provides facilities such as increased parking and a lift.

It is part of a renewal of tired NHS primary care premises around the region which promises better quality care for patients.

One of the pluses of the new location is that pet-owners are unlikely to bring their sick cats or dogs to the reception. Netherlaw is currently next door to a thriving veterinary surgery, which is also housed in an old Victorian villa. "We get a lot of customers bringing in their animals but our new next door neighbours will be a funeral directors," says Dr Michie.

The Netherlaw doctors are looking forward to operating in an environment which is more suitable for modern medicine. Walking through the arch and into the large reception area, visitors are struck by the sensation of space. Inside the former sports bar, which once echoed with the roar of football fans watching big screen matches, there are now modern consulting rooms, clinics and treatment areas galore.

"We just didn't have the facilities for the kind of service we want to provide in this day and age," says Dr Michie. "General practice and primary care have altered a great deal. We no longer just deal with patients when they walk in through our door - we now have to be more pro-active. We are looking to identify risk factors in our patients and try to prevent illness before it happens."

The increased size - The Blacketts building has roughly twice as much space - means that the practice will be able to be more flexible in meeting the needs of the 8,500 patients on its books. Apart from offering a range of clinics for chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma and coronary heart disease, it will be branching out into new areas. "We are looking to develop a primary care based musculo-skeletal service which will include the management of rheumatological conditions, soft tissue disease and sports injuries," says Dr Michie.

The practice is already taking part in a pilot scheme to meet the needs of patients who misuse substances and this is likely to expand.

Janice Wilkinson, patient services manager at the practice, says the service provided for clients is working well. "We are not getting any problems and the patients have responded well," she says.

Uniquely in County Durham, the practice will have a sexual assault referral centre where victims of alleged assault can be examined in what Dr Michie describes as "a friendly and sympathetic environment".

As a model modern NHS facility, the new practice will work closely with the private sector. Under the same roof will be a private foot care clinic, offering reflexology as an option, and a physiotherapist. A branch of Rowland Pharmacies will also open next door.

"We have always tried to offer a personal service in pleasant surroundings but Netherlaw has seen better days," says Dr Michie. "Our move is taking primary care into the 21st century but re-emphasising our traditional way of working through close personal care."

The new practice, which features five doctors and employs 25 staff, opens in its new home on November 1. Patients will also be able to enjoy £45,000 worth of art commissioned by the practice's GPs, including a sculpture, stained glass, a tapestry and unique, specially designed iron entrance gates.