IT’s fair to say that Trish Harrington practically grew up at Lister House. Starting as a “green-eyed 17-year-old” in July 1983, Trish began a career spanning more than four decades as a medical receptionist. This was long before clinical nurses joined the team, before digitised records and before universal healthcare shaped how care was delivered. Over the years, she has witnessed the many changes at the practice and has seen its deepening commitment to the community.
When she first walked into the two-storey brick surgery at 157 Maude Street, the practice was a bustling, yet cosy hub of doctors. The building held practice rooms, sterilisation areas, a waiting room, reception and even a small theatre for minor procedures. Back then, the founding doctor Reginald Mills’ wife, Dorne, lived upstairs, and their son Graham ran a dental clinic next door, within the clinic.
Joining a dedicated team of doctors, Trish fondly recalls working with Dr Graeme Jones, Dr Roger Key, Dr John Pedrotti and Dr Bruce Sterling. She especially remembers Dr Alec Taylor:
“He was a wonderful doctor with a dry sense of humour and genuine kindness. He really took me under his wing.”
In her early years and in marked contrast to the defined roles within a surgery today, Trish not only worked in administration, but also assisted in the practice theatre, comforted children and sterilised instruments.
As Lister House grew and relocated several times along Nixon Street, Trish was there to see it all; the introduction of universal healthcare, the arrival of nursing in general practice, and the shift to digital records. With a laugh, she recalls Dr Paul O’Dwyer’s frustration with technology: “We thought hand-writing patient histories on new A4 sheets was cutting-edge!”
Throughout four decades, Trish has watched generations grow, from newborns to elderly patients. The bonds formed have shaped Lister House into much more than a medical practice.
“There certainly is a family feel to this practice. I’ve have known many special patients overtime. One patient even made a beautiful, cross-stitched gift for my newborn son, which meant a lot to me,” Trish said.
Now, as Lister House opens its new state-of-the-art facility at 4 Shelby Court, excitement is building and as Trish said,
“Being under one roof will be better for everyone. It will be lovely to have everything organised, with room to grow, our own carpark, and a smoother way to care for our patients.”
