Quality Practice Award for Princess Street

L-R: Dr Mayur Lakhani, Dr Steven Curson, Lord Warner and Professor Deian Hopkin

The award, granted by the Royal College of General Practitioners, was presented by health minister Lord Warner when he visited the practice to unveil a plaque.

During the ceremony the Minister of State said: "The practice is a model of modern NHS primary care services, with teams of doctors, nurses, therapists and other specialist staff all coming together to provide more integrated services closer to patients' homes."

GP partner Steven Curson, introducing the minister, said: "The practice is delighted to have been given this national award as it recognises the quality of our services and our staff and above all the teamwork that has made it possible. That is what is so exciting about doing the work and is what I have most enjoyed about working at Princess Street for 35 years."

Royal College of General Practitioners chairman Dr Mayur Lakhani said that Princess Street was an example of world class general practice in the UK.

Guests were able to see plans for the new practice building due to open in 2008 in Borough Road as part of a collaboration with London South Bank University. The move was welcomed by the minister who said that he spoke as a Southwark resident.

University vice-chancellor Professor Deian Hopkin said that the venture symbolised a real and sustainable community partnership.

• The origins of the Princess Street practice can be traced back to the end of the Second World War when the address was in Southwark Bridge Road. The surgery opened in the Elephant & Castle in 1970.