Hackney doctor named one of UK’s best at national GP awards

Left: Dr Mehta at the awards ceremony. Right: Richmond Road Medical Centre in London Fields.

A Hackney GP was named one of the best in his field at a prestigious national awards ceremony last month.

Dr Gopal Mehta, who works at Richmond Road Medical Centre near London Fields, was highly commended for the ‘GP of the Year’ award at the General Practice Awards on 30 November.

He was recognised for his positive impact on patient care, boosting the morale and wellbeing of his colleagues, his leadership, and his work in helping to improve the quality of local healthcare services and access for people across the City and Hackney areas.

Dr Mehta said: “I’m absolutely touched by all the nominations from colleagues, patients and secondary care teams in our area.

“My work with vulnerable practices has been something I have especially valued and I’m extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to do.

“I have witnessed some really positive outcomes amidst testing times for some of the practices with whom I have worked, with support from the GP Confederation.”

City and Hackney GP Confederation chief executive Laura Sharpe added: “We are absolutely delighted for Dr Mehta on this successful recognition in the GP of the Year awards.

“His approach is a real example of the skills, passion and energy he brings to all the initiatives he is involved in as well as his everyday work as a GP.

“We’re truly very fortunate in City and Hackney to have Dr Mehta delivering high quality care to patients and enabling others to do the same.”

Richmond Road Medical Centre, which took home the ‘Practice of the Year’ prize at last year’s GP Awards, serves 6,900 patients from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and sees a larger than average number of people aged between 25 and 40.

The surgery’s population has a high prevalence of long-term conditions such as diabetes.

Dr Mehta has introduced a raft of innovations at the practice, including the launch of his annual Mental Health Awareness event, which showcases the services available to local patients and this year attracted 40 exhibitors and 500 visitors.

He also designed and implemented an online access system which allows patients to address problems and discuss concerns with their GP without having to come to the practice. The system is now being rolled out at other surgeries in the borough.