The History of Private Medicine in Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge Doctors has a rich and colourful history, shaped by a succession of dedicated doctors and staff, each bringing their own style and influence. The practice predates the NHS itself, and its story is inseparable from the story of private medicine in this part of London.

The practice was originally founded by a Scotsman, Dr McNaught, who established it as a panel practice under the 1911 National Insurance Act. Panel practices were the predecessors to the NHS: doctors contracted with the government to provide care to insured workers, while also treating private patients.

When the National Health Service was introduced in 1948, Dr McNaught faced a choice that every GP in the country confronted. He chose not to join the new system, instead maintaining the practice as a private medical service. This decision shaped the character and independence of the practice for the decades that followed.

The practice has been home to several memorable doctors. Dr Ray Rowntree, Dr John Allison, and Dr Tom King all contributed to the practice's reputation and its evolving approach to patient care. Each generation of doctors added their expertise while maintaining the core principle of personalised, unhurried medicine.

In 1968, the practice moved from Cumberland Mansions in Marble Arch to its current home at Basil Mansions in Knightsbridge. The grand Victorian entrance on Basil Street, with its ornate stone archway and brass nameplates, has become a landmark in its own right. Dr Swann, a Consultant Radiologist, helped establish the radiology unit, giving the practice the in-house X-ray capability that remains a distinctive advantage today.

Today, Knightsbridge Doctors continues to thrive under the leadership of Dr Eoin Waters, who has been with the practice since 2007. The team of seven GPs brings over 150 years of combined medical experience, with specialisms ranging from sports medicine (Dr Munraj Gill, who has worked with Chelsea FC and the Great Britain Rowing Team) to BMS-accredited menopause care (Dr Cliona O'Connell).

The practice now offers services that Dr McNaught could never have imagined: weight management with GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and Ozempic, MRI and CT-based health screening packages, electronic immigration medical processing via eMedical, and telemedicine consultations. Yet the fundamental principles remain unchanged: ample time for each patient, genuine continuity of care, and the personal relationship between doctor and patient that only a long-established independent practice can provide.

Building on nearly a century of excellence and tradition, while meeting the modern needs of our patients with the same commitment and care, Knightsbridge Doctors reflects the best of traditional private medicine and evolving patient expectations, shaped by a collegiate team with individual strengths.