Professor Dame Clare Gerada, a highly respected south London GP with Maltese roots, has been appointed to the UK House of Lords as a crossbench peer; becoming the first Maltese woman to take a seat in the chamber.

Her appointment, announced by the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission, recognises her exceptional contribution to medicine, mental health, and public service over more than four decades.

Born in Malta and raised in the UK, Dame Clare has dedicated her career to improving the health and wellbeing of both patients and healthcare professionals. She said she plans to bring ‘the voice of general practice’ into the Lords and continue championing the values of the National Health Service (NHS).

Since joining the NHS in 1983, Dame Clare has trained in psychiatry and general practice and serves as senior GP partner at the Hurley Group, a network providing primary and urgent care in some of London’s most deprived communities.

A passionate advocate for mental health, she led NHS Practitioner Health from 2008 to 2020; a confidential service offering vital support to doctors and health workers struggling with mental health issues or addiction.

Continuing her drive to tackle emerging public health challenges, Dame Clare founded the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service in 2019, the first national service of its kind, helping people affected by gambling-related harm.

Her leadership has extended across the profession. She served as Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) between 2010 and 2013, and later as its President from 2021 to 2023. In 2020, she was awarded the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to mental health and the NHS.

Beyond her professional roles, Dame Clare is patron of Doctors in Distress, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide among healthcare professionals and promoting a culture of compassion and openness in medicine.

What an honour!