Triumph and turmoil – RCGP Chair reports on her first year in
office
18/11/11
Twelve months of triumph and turmoil – that is
the verdict of Dr Clare Gerada as she marks her first year in
office as RCGP Chair.
In the first-ever RCGP Chair’s annual report, Dr Gerada – the
first woman Chair of the College for 50 years – recalls the key
events of the past year and reports her progress against the five
priority objectives she set herself on taking up office; promoting
the role of the generalist; providing leadership opportunities for
the next generation of GPs; supporting GPs professionally and
personally; addressing health inequalities; and enhancing GP
training.
Dr Gerada admits that the debate around the Health and Social
Care Bill in England has taken up the majority of her time: “When I
stood for Chair of Council I didn’t for one moment expect that my
first year of office would be dominated so heavily by the Health
and Social Care Bill. But dominate it did.
“The reforms of the NHS have created turmoil for patients, for
the NHS, for GPs in England and for the College. But despite my
very necessary involvement in the debate, I have been working
across the board to drive clinical innovation, promote the College,
and support its members.”
She outlines the work that she and the College have achieved in
the “day job”, highlights of which include:
- Publication of the report of the independent Commission on
Generalism
- Launch of the First5 programme for newly qualified
GPs
- Setting up the RCGP Centre for Commissioning
- Work to enhance the length of GP training
- Launch of 17 new e-learning programmes helping GPs access
up-to-the-minute training on key topics
- Publication of a revised revalidation guide
- Appointment of clinical champions for domestic
violence etc.
- Expanding our international programmes for training family
doctors – the College is now working with countries across four
continents, encompassing a third of the world’s population.
She pays tribute to the Chairs of Northern Ireland, Scotland,
and Wales – as well as to the RCGP membership, now numbering over
44,000.
“I want to thank all members, fellows, and staff of the College,
here and overseas for the spectacular work you do, every day, for
your patients and for this college.”
She concludes: “This has been a year of triumph and turmoil. The
health reforms are still being played out in Westminster, and we
will continue to engage with the process over the coming months,
and years, to ensure that patient care, and GPs’ ability to provide
it, is not diminished as a result of these reforms.
“We know, but have to constantly repeat, how important GPs are
to the NHS. We make the NHS safer, kinder and cheaper. Whatever
happens, we must have more GPs, who are trained for longer,
spending longer with their patients.”
RCGP Chair's annual report to
members 2010-11 
ENDS
Further information
RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7576/7575/7574
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes to editors
Chair’s speech to the RCGP
AGM
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more
than 44,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We
work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general
medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education,
training, research and clinical standards.