GPC chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul has topped the Pulse Power 50 list of the most influential GPs compiled by Pulse from more than 500 nominations from the profession.
Dr Nagpaul was described as an ‘inspiring figure’ and a ‘visionary already uniting the profession’ from the GPs who nonimated him, despite becoming GPC chair less than three months ago.
The fourth annual list of the names that will define general practice include many new names, including those at the centre of the new NHS England body. GPs Dr David Geddes, the national head of primary care commissioning and Dr Mike Bewick were both nominated for their influence at the heart of the body that will shape primary care in England over the next year.
Professor Steve Field - who started his new job as chief inspector of general practice at the CQC this week - also features highly on the list. He is likely to prove a decisive figure as he shapes the new inspection regime at the regulator and drives forward a new practice ratings scheme.
Dr Maureen Baker is another new face high on the list, as she will shortly take over from Professor Clare Gerada (also highly placed) as RCGP chair next month. Professor Gerada has been the first-placed GP for the past two years on the list, but was placed lower this year as she steps down from her national RCGP role to take over responsibility for ‘transforming’ primary care in London.
The Pulse Power 50 has more women and is more ethnically diverse than ever before, but it reveals that perhaps there is a long way to go before the leaders of the profession are completely representative.
Commissioning leaders form many of those on the list, with Dr Charles Alessi and Dr Mike Dixon heading up a clutch of CCG leaders, including a number of lesser known names, such as Dr Mohammed Jiva and Dr Amanda Doyle.
Other names on the list are new NICE chair Professor David Haslam, BMA deputy chair Dr Kailash Chand and Londonwide LMCs chief executive Dr Michelle Drage.
In drawing up the Power 50 list, Pulse spent four weeks seeking the views of GPs from across the profession. For the first time, we opened nominations to our entire readership, inviting grassroots GPs to tell us who was really making a difference on the frontline.
Our panel included luminaries such as Professor Field, RCGP president Professor Mike Pringle and former GPC chair Dr Laurence Buckman, but also more than 100 readers. Each nominated up to five influential GPs and up to two up-and-coming GPs, as well as up to two influential non-GPs.
We received more than 500 nominations in total. They were used to help the Pulse editorial team compile the final list, which we believe reflects the breadth and depth of the profession – and also its changing priorities at a critical juncture for general practice.
As well as the Pulse Power 50, a list of the faces to watch for the future and a list of the Top 20 most influential non-GPs will also be published later today.
