The Area
Limehouse was in the core of London’s docks and its original Chinatown, it has the furthest east Hawksmoor Church in London and the first Salvation Army Hostel. It also has all the characteristics of the twenty-first century London’s East End. Sherlock Holmes and Edwin Drood were particularly involved in the drug culture of the area, something which the practice tries to provide care around now.
History and Development 
The Limehouse practice at Gill Street Health Centre is rooted in history, but living very much in the present. The predecessors of the present partners (8 GPs, practice manager and practice nurse) were Dr Maddison (set up practice in 1924, retired 1983) and Dr Moss (retired 1985), who took over his brother’s practice in Commercial Road when he was killed in an air raid in the Second World War.
Practice Population
The practice population has grown to around 11,165.
The Team 
We are a big team, the doctors include four partners (Kirsten Shirke, Tariq Khan, Aiysha Jawaid and Abdul Kamali (in order of joining) and two salaried GP's (Dr Fernando Franco Alonso and Dr Ameen Kamlana).
There are three practice nurses and three health care assistants. The administration, secretarial and reception team, includes practice manager, Carly Debenham. IT manager Pardip Rattan has a focus on IT management and issues. Chinese, Vietnamese, Bengali and other health advocates work with the practice; midwives attend our weekly ANC clinics, and psychologists, CPNs and counsellors are closely involved in regular meetings and seeing clients.
Personal Lists
The Limehouse Practice runs a personal list service, which means, as far as possible, we try to get patients to see their own doctor. This improves the continuity of care (making sure someone knows about all your problems and what medical conditions you have suffered from in the past). Some patients who have many complex health problems value seeing the same doctor who has a good knowledge of their previous medical history.
Micro-teams
As most doctors at Limehouse don’t have clinics every day it may be difficult for you to see your own doctor sometimes. Your usual doctor works as part of a small clinical team with two/three other doctors, so you will be offered an appointment with one of the other doctors working in the same team as your named doctor.