Hightown Surgery currently has a practice population of nearly 10,000 patients. We have 4 full-time partners, 1 half-time 2 part-time assistant GP’s and as we are a training practice we have a GP registrar. The present surgery building was built in 1988 and was extended in 1991 with. Further improvements are planned for next year but the birth of the surgery was very different.

In 1974 Dr Michael Sheldon originally founded Hightown Surgery. For the first few months he worked from a portacabin in the grounds of the Horton General Hospital. In 1975 the Practice moved to 65 Oxford Road, Banbury.

In 1976 with a practice population of 2000 Dr Veronica Fisher joined the practice and in 1979 with a population of 2700 Dr Sheldon retired and our now senior partner Dr Richard Lehman became a new partner. The surgery was growing at a steady rate and by 1985 Dr Douglas Boyle had joined the practice.

The surgery was outgrowing the premises on the Oxford road and in 1988 the practice moved to the purpose built premises at Hightown Gardens situated opposite the Horton General Hospital. By 1991 the population had grown to 6300 and Dr Hin joined as the fourth partner. The surgery premises were extended to house the services and the staff needed for our ever- growing practice population.

In 1992 Hightown Surgery became accredited, as a training practice the GP responsible for training new registrars was Dr Boyle. We were still a growing practice and so in 1996 Dr Louise Cornwall joined the practice as a half time partner. She had previously been with the practice as a GP registrar.

In 1997 Dr Veronica Fisher retired and Dr Pauline Crawford became a full time partner in June of that year. She reduced to a three quarter time partner in January 2000 following the birth of her first child.

In February 2001 Dr Vip Patel became our 6th partner and following this Dr Catriona Stephens joined the practice in May 2002 as a GP retainer. Dr Pauline Crawford left us at the end of December 2003 to pursue her interests in family Planning. Dr Rachael Urquhart joined the Practice in January 2004 having previously worked at Hightown as a GP locum. Both Dr Stephens and Dr Urquhart work-part time at the surgery.