Founded in 1919 by Dr. Arthur Cressy, a General Practitioner from Wallington Green, the Sutton and District Medical Society is thought to be the fourth oldest of its kind in England. Dr. Cressy established the Society to foster mutual support among GPs in Surrey, covering Wallington, Carshalton, Sutton, and Cheam. As the number of medical practitioners grew, a new local War Memorial Hospital was built in 1923 in Carshalton. Here, GPs served as medical staff, caring for in-patients and manning a Casualty department. The hospital’s operating theatre, named The Cressy Operating Theatre, hosted innovative procedures piloted by Dr. Cressy, often with the assistance of patients' own GPs, providing continuity of care. Eminent visiting surgeons, introduced through Society lectures, also performed operations at the theatre.

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In 1948, with the advent of the National Health Service, the Presidents of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians visited the area, and new local consultants were invited to join the Society. Initially, the Society’s lectures were strictly medical, but they have since expanded to cover a broader range of topics. Evening meetings now welcome family and friends, fostering a valuable local professional network.

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The Sutton and District Medical Society continues to adapt to changes in medical services, offering a forum for professional updates and local networking. Monthly meetings are held at Banstead Downs Golf Club, Burdon Lane, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey SM2 7DD, England. These meetings include a reception at 7:15 PM, followed by dinner at 7:45 PM, a lecture, and time for discussion. Members unable to attend the reception and dinner are welcome to join for the lectures. Additionally, the Society holds an annual Clinical Meeting at a local center and a formal Black Tie Dinner.

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