9. Dr Richard Vautrey

GPC chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul must wake up every morning happy that he has Dr Vautrey as his deputy.

The Leeds GP is the ultimate safe pair of hands and a supreme media performer, often appearing on BBC radio and national television to clarify the BMA’s position.

He was nominated for being the ‘voice of the GPC in media’ and for ‘working hard to negotiate a sensible contract’.

He cites his achievements this year as the 3.2% funding uplift from April in England, which included funding to cover increases in indemnity costs, national insurance and CQC fees. In the year ahead, he tells Pulse that he will ‘take further steps to implement ideas identified in the GPC’s Urgent Prescription for General Practice, particularly those that impact on funding, workload and workforce’.

He also faces a decision on how to proceed after the GPC’s decision not to hold a ballot on industrial action.

But he remains grounded: ‘The most enjoyable part of the job is meeting GPs in different parts of the county and listening to and learning from their experience.’

Why influential: GPC’s Spock to Nagpaul’s Kirk

Surprising fact: ‘I spent longer learning to be a GP in Nigeria than in England’