This Blackburn GP is a glowing example of how a member of the profession’s grassroots can change national policy for the better. Her campaigning on the high costs of indemnity were a driving force behind the introduction of the state-backed indemnity scheme from April 2019.
Her letter to then health secretary Jeremy Hunt in September last year was signed by 300 GPs, and helped lead to the announcement of the state-backed scheme only weeks later.
We still have to wait and see what the final scheme looks like – but Dr Shukla’s tireless campaigning early on helped put this on the BMA and NHS England radar, to a point where anything less than an adequate solution for GPs will lead to a huge backlash.
Dr Shukla is now more active in medico-politics, yet she retains the respect of grassroots GPs, with dozens of nominations to the Power 50, praising her leadership qualities, her support of fellow GPs, her passion for the profession and her local work for GPs and patients.
Why influential: Shows the positive influence that can be exerted at grassroots level
What others say: ‘Fantastic GP who always puts her patients first and comes up with excellent ideas to improve service’
