Dr Sam Everington, chairman of Tower Hamlets CCG, east London, has been knighted for services to primary care.
Dr Everington, who is also a BMA Council member, said: ''It’s a wonderful surprise and privilege for my work to be recognised. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity of working with fantastic partners, colleagues and patients in Tower Hamlets, including the local CCG and the Bromley-By-Bow Centre.'
The award recognises the work Dr Everington has done over the last 20 years as a GP in Tower Hamlets to improve the lives of thousands of local people in one of the poorest boroughs in England and for his work in helping to shape the future of the NHS.
The Bromley-by-Bow Centre which Dr Everington helped set up is seen both nationally and internationally as an example of effective working between the private, public and voluntary and community sectors to improve the health of local people.
The centre has pioneered the use of telecare, video consultations and self-care, developing models of care that are being copied across the country.
Dr Everington is also trustee of the prestigious health think tank the King’s Fund and was recently a member of the London Health Commission which looked at how to improve health across the capital.
Cutting-edge innovator
His knighthood citation speaks of Dr Everington as 'a cutting-edge innovator' working among some of the poorest in the country.
It adds: 'Beyond his own practice, he has improved health services across east London from the transition between GP services and acute care in one of London’s poorest boroughs, while delivering the highest rate of MMR immunisation in London.'
OBE for CQC's senior national GP advisor
Professor Nigel Sparrow, the CQC's senior national GP advisor and responsible officer, was awarded an OBE. Professor Sparrow was a GP for 30 years in the Nottinghamshire area until he retired from clinical practice in March. Also, he is the medical director for revalidation at the RCGP, and he was a GP appraiser and trainer.
He said: ''I am absolutely delighted to receive an OBE. It is wonderful to be recognised for the work that I have done to improve the quality of care in general practice at the RCGP, the standing commission on carers and now at the CQC, as well as being a GP for the last 30 years.
'Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with some of the most hard-working and dedicated people within general practice and across the wider healthcare system. I couldn’t have achieved what I have done without them.'
More GPs honoured
Dr Tim Robson, a GP from Watford, Hertfordshire, was also awarded an OBE for setting up a specialist GP practice for the homeless 11 years ago.
Dr Robson said: ''Specialist primary care is very effective in reducing health inequalities and enabling homeless people to overcome the barriers they find in accessing timely healthcare, and I am thrilled to see the importance of dedicated teams, offering such care in our society, recognised in this way.'
Dr Brian Keighley, former chairman of the BMA's Scottish Council, and Dr Caron Morton, accountable officer for Shropshire CCG, are made MBEs for services to primary care.
* More to follow. GP is working on this story. Are you a GP who received an honour or would you like to congratulate one who did? Email your details to neil.durham@haymarket.com.
