Our History

Claremont Clinic has been serving our community around Forest Gate since 1951 (although there are some reports that it has roots older than this with the names Dr Ethel Mary Coombs, Dr Annie Clark and Dr Annie Simpson being associated with our history)

It was founded as we know it a few years after the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS) by Dr Hannah Hedwig Striesow – a pioneering and famed General Practitioner. The clinic was set up in a double fronted house on Claremont Road in the Woodgrange Estate, and flourished there for many years under her leadership.

Dr Striesow was well regarded by our community, and many present patients recall fond memories of her. She was a pioneer of GP led delivery units and she was a police surgeon.  Dr Striesow hired Dr Wood and later Dr Joyce to help support her growing clinic. Suki Rattu (our current manager) started at Claremont in the 1980s having been recruited as a receptionist by Dr Striesow, she rapidly was promoted to manager and has remained in this role since. When Dr Striesow retired, she was the oldest full-time doctor in the country. Her obituary can be read in The Guardian here.

Claremont Clinic relocated to its current location on the Romford Road in 1998, taking over dilapidated premises that once was the well known ‘Roebuck Motors’ showroom. The clinic expanded further and the expanded clinic had room for midwives and mental health teams to offer services on site.

Claremont Clinic has continued to grow, develop and innovate, undergoing a further refurbishment and expansion of clinical areas during 2024. We look forward to its future and celebrating its 75th year as part of our community.