My last post as Chair

This is my last post as Chairman of Council, and I write it with great sadness. The last three years have been the most wonderful time; it’s been a great privilege to travel the length and breadth of the UK leading the College. But the real privilege has been being able to meet GPs across the country; in practices, out of hours centres and at meetings. It’s been wonderful to see the great work that people do across the country and to hear just how GPs are working with their patients and the public. It has also been great fun to engage with managers, nurses, physios, and even journalists and politicians!

My beautiful leaving gift - thank you

The feedback I’ve had from patients and the general public about the care GPs provide has been excellent. I have, of course, had to answer some criticisms, which usually arrive in the form of an email or a letter, but occasionally I have been confronted in public meetings or in the media. I hope that I have been able to put forward the view of general practice in a constructive way, promoting high-quality care, but also acknowledging that as professionals we would like to provide the highest quality care that we can and that we are not complacent. I have tried to be clear about our professionalism; we all want to do the best for our patients and, given the appropriate resources and support I am sure British general practice will continue to go from strength to strength.

I’ve had a fantastic team within the College who I will miss greatly. I’ll miss the staff, and the GPs, all of whom I have thanked personally in my AGM speech, which you’ll find on the College website shortly.

I’d particularly like to say thank you to the brilliant press team that we’ve got; Gillian Watson, Heather Whitney and Charlie Breslin. And of course I’d like to thank Gillie Lyons, who’s been a wonderful support to me over the last three years, and has kept me sane when all hell has broken loose.

I’ll miss them all.

The future is bright: General practice is definitely at the centre of the NHS. As you will have picked up from my emails, and from meeting me, I am an eternal optimist. I believe that with strong GP and clinical leadership we can really improve the care for our patients and make a massive contribution to improving the public’s health across the UK.

So with these optimistic words, I wish you the best of luck for the future, I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart for your support, and challenge, over the last three years which has helped me personally and professionally in leading the College. I will continue to support the college, to support general practice, and promote the key role of the generalist in whatever I end up doing in the months and years to come.

Of course, you haven’t seen the last of me, and I’m going to continue to blog here once I’ve had a bit of a rest.

With very best wishes, now and for the future,

Steve