NEW ENTRY
Devon GP Dr Sam Barrell has risen to prominence this year as one of the new breed of clinical leaders spearheading the transformation of the health service.
Until recently, Dr Barrell, who practices at the Compass House surgery in Brixham, was chair of Baywide CCG, but she is now the clinical accountable officer for the newly formed South Devon and Torbay CCG.
One of our panel members described her as ‘beginning to get the ear of central policy makers', while another said she was ‘nationally influential, but most importantly influences locally for better care for patients'.
Dr Barrell cites relationship building as a big challenge in her part of Devon, but has gone to great lengths to try and impress the need to lead upon her peers. With over 50 GPs in her CCG now actively engaged with commissioning, she believes the local profession is beginning to get on board with service redesign. The CCG already has new or improved services for diabetes, cardiology, end-of-life care, obesity, alcohol and urology under its belt.
Dr Barrell has also used her network as a tutor at the Peninsula Medical School to attract good quality backfill from newly qualified GPs.
