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12. Professor Simon Gregory

Professor Simon Gregory has been known to be very positive about the merits of being a GP – and his enthusiasm appears to be rubbing off.

Last year Health Education England’s lead doctor for primary care was on track to meet the target of 3,250 GP trainees, and ended up exceeding it, bringing the total to 3,473.

It was the first time the target had ever been met, and this year it’s looking like the same will happen again.

With his new title as HEE’s deputy medical director of primary and integrated care, Professor Gregory wants to turn his attention to ‘how we support GPs and the primary care workforce’.

National achievements aside, the Northampton GP still places importance on everyday practice.

In the last year, one other moment stood out for him: ‘When a patient came to see me because they had seen my rainbow badge [in support of LGBT+] and said they knew that I was safe to talk to.’

Why influential: Supporting GP trainees and heralding general practice as the specialty of choice

What he says: ‘I’d probably be described as a workaholic, but hopefully as someone that cares for those around him and for the NHS’

Random fact: Used to be a baker