A GP who transformed a boarded-up hardware store into a medical surgery is celebrating 25 years in practice.
Dr John Doherty took a gamble when he opened the Park Avenue Surgery in east Redcar in June 1979, with two receptionists, a district nurse, a midwife and a health visitor.
Today the practice, which is base for Dr Doherty, two part-time GPs, a nurse practioner, a practice nurse, practice manager and four receptionists, is at the centre of a small health village. Next door there is a newly-opened dental practice as well as a physiotherapy clinic, a pharmacy, nursing home and also a veterinary surgery.
Dr Doherty said: "In the past 25 years, I've seen massive changes in primary care.
"Today, GP practices are equipped to provide many services to patients that 25 years ago could only be provided in a hospital setting.
"I would like to express my thanks to all my patients and especially the local ones who registered in 1979 and who have seen the same dynamic changes as myself."
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