The history of the Eglinton Practice can be traced back to the early nineteenth century.
The Grocers Company of London (who owned the village) founded a dispensary in the
1820’s in the ground floor of the old courthouse, now the bank and there has been
a GP practice in Eglinton since then.
Patients still remember the last two dispensing doctors Dr. J.S. Baird of Eglinton
House who practiced for 40 years from 1890-1930 and DR. A.H. Montgomery of Coolafinney
House who practiced from 1930 until his retirement in 1970. Latterly Dr. A.H. Montgomery
practiced with Dr. J.R. White who then took over the practice. Dr. Rose Sharkey joined
Dr. White and when she retired in 1981 Dr. R. Hetherington joined him.
As the old surgery was attached to Dr. Montgomery’s house a new health centre was
built in 1972 in part of the old wartime navy hospital. Due to the increased workload
because of the growth of the village Dr. R. Manning joined the practice in 1987.
Then when Dr. D. White retired in 1990 he was succeeded by Dr. D. Patterson. Finally
Dr. Helen Kennedy became a part time partner in 1999.
Due to the increase in the size of the practice a new purpose built modern surgery
was built in 2002.
The practice area extends approximately to a 7 mile radius from the Medical Centre.
