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Profile: Meet the new GPC chair

The GPC has chosen an accomplished GP to represent them as chair. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, a GP in north London, has served on the GPC since 1996. He has led on commissioning for the GPC, but also has a wide range of experience leading on other issues.

He was voted the fifth most influential GP in the country in Pulse’s Top 50 GPs last year, graduating from rising star to a genuine contender to be the next chair of the GPC.

Widely hailed for his thoughtful and articulate approach, his measured yet authoritative presence has led to some suggesting a career in television is on the cards – suggestions that has been laughed off by Dr Nagpaul himself.

Dr Nagpaul has not been shy in criticising the Government’s health reforms and has been attacked in the media himself. He was ‘Daily Mailed’ last year during coverage of the day of industrial action – the paper printed a picture of his home and criticised him for ‘driving a Jaguar with a personalised number plate’.

In addition to his commissioning role, Dr Nagpaul has led on GPC on negotiations on IT and enhanced services.

Dr Nagpaul is a senior partner in a five-doctor general practice in Stanmore, North London, where he has practised continuously since qualifying as a GP in 1989.

Speaking before his election, he told Pulse that he was the best option because he will ‘fight for general practice’ and ‘define a positive future’ for GPs with a grassroots perspective gained from 20 years on his LMC and as a jobbing GP.

He says: ‘My immediate priority is to tackle the crisis of unresourced workload shift and saturation, to ease the pain for GPs and provide us with the resources, time and capacity to provide the care our patients deserve.’

‘I will fight for general practice to gets its fair and increased share of the NHS cake, and for politicians to finally grasp that this itself is key to reducing NHS pressures. I want GPC to lead a vision and strategy beyond the current battles, that defines a positive future for general practice, fit for purpose, sustainable, with manageable workload and just rewards, and a GPC  in touch with the concerns and aspirations of everyday GPs.’