Clare Gerada appointed life peer in the House of Lords 

Former RCGP chair Professor Dame Clare Gerada has been appointed to the House of Lords in recognition of her service to medicine and mental health.

The south London GP, who led the national GP mental health support service NHS Practitioner Health, has been appointed as a new non-party-political peer and will sit on the crossbenches.

She told Pulse she would ‘take the voice of general practice’ into the Lords.

Dame Clare led NHS Practitioner Health from its formation in 2008 until 2020 and was also chair of the RCGP from 2010 to 2013 – only the second woman in the college’s history to do so at the time – and later served as its president from 2021 to 2023. 

She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2020 for her services to mental health and the NHS and has been a senior GP partner at the Hurley Clinic in London since 1991. 

Dame Clare told Pulse: ‘I’ve spent the best part of 40 years working in the NHS, most of that time in general practice. I feel that the House of Lords is a place that I can continue my commitment to the NHS’ values, and to try and also improve the services in general practice. 

‘I will do my best as much as I can to take the voice of general practice into the House of Lords.’

She said she would be a ‘conduit’ for the profession and would also use her time to advocate tackling gambling-related harms. 

In a statement, the RCGP congratulated her on the announcement. It said: ‘A lifelong college member and now a Baroness – but first and foremost a grassroots GP who continues to deliver exceptional care to your patients and to fight for the profession you love.

‘You witnessed the power of general practice from a young age, seeing at first-hand the difference your GP father made to his patients’ lives, and we know you will be the most powerful advocate for GPs and patients in the House of Lords.

‘We are so proud of you Clare. You are an inspirational and courageous leader, and this is a historic moment for you and for our College. We wish you every success.’

NHS Practitioner Health chief executive Lucy Warner said in response to the announcement: ‘We are immensely proud of what Clare has achieved in her career, as well as her continual dedication to her profession and the wider workforce. 

‘Thanks to her determination and drive, thousands of clinicians have been helped, and many careers and lives have been saved. 

‘We know Dame Clare will continue to push forward the agenda that our workforce is the driving force of the NHS, and that healthy and happy staff will bring about the best results for all of us.’ 

Dame Clare also established the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service, (PCGS) with the first service launching in south London in 2019. 

GP lead for PCGS Dr Emma Ryan said: ‘This well-deserved honour recognises Clare’s decades of progressive leadership in primary care.  

‘Her vision helped establish the PCGS, improving the support and treatment available for those experiencing gambling harms. 

‘Her experience will be invaluable in advancing system-wide improvements and fostering innovation going forward.’