{{Short description|British-Maltese general practitioner (born 1959)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox medical person | honorific_prefix = The Right Honourable | name = The Baroness Gerada | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DBE|FRCP|FRCPsych|FRCGP}} | image = Official portrait of Baroness Gerada crop 2.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2026 | birth_name = {{nowrap|Clare Mary Louise Francis Gerada}} | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1959|11}} | birth_place = Nigeria | nationality = | citizenship = British and Maltese | education = MB BS, 1983, UCL Medical School | alma_mater = | occupation = General practitioner | known_for = Chairperson of RCGP | spouse = Sir Simon Wessely | children = 2 | profession = Medical doctor | specialism = Mental health (especially of health care workers), substance misuse, and problem gambling | research_field = | prizes = | module = {{infobox officeholder |embed=yes | office1 = Member of the House of Lords | status1 = Lord Temporal | term_label1 = Life peerage | term_start1 = 24 November 2025 | term_end1 = |party=Crossbench}} }}
'''Clare Mary Louise Francis Gerada, Baroness Gerada''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DBE|FRCP|FRCPsych|FRCGP}} (born November 1959) is a British and Maltese London-based general practitioner who is a former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and a former chairwoman of the RCGP Council (2010–2013). She has professional interests in mental health, substance misuse, and gambling problems. In 2025, she was made a life peer.
==Early life== Gerada was born in Nigeria in 1959 to Maltese parents. The family moved to the United Kingdom in 1963.<ref name="mddus 2011">{{Cite journal |last=Campbell |first=Adam |date=1 April 2011 |title=Profile: Clare Gerada |url=https://www.mddus.com/resources/publications-library/insight/spring-2011/profile-dr-clare-gerada |journal=Summons |publisher=MDDUS |issue=Spring 2011 |pages=12–13 |access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref> Her father, Anthony Gerada, was a general practitioner. He opened a single-handed practice in Peterborough.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gerada |first=C. |date=16 October 2013 |title=Clare Gerada: best move was "getting into drugs" |journal=BMJ |volume=347 |issue=7929 |article-number=f6192 |doi=10.1136/bmj.f6192 |pmid=24133128 |s2cid=22913084}}</ref><ref name="ns">{{Cite web |last=Elmhirst |first=Sophie |date=14 November 2011 |title=The NS Interview: Clare Gerada, physician |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/health/2011/11/interview-nhs-patients-reform |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=New Statesman}}</ref>
==Medical career== Gerada qualified in medicine at UCL Medical School in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Registered Medical Practitioners (The online Register) |url=https://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/2838294 |access-date=17 December 2023 |publisher=General Medical Council}}</ref> She then trained in psychiatry and worked at the Maudsley Hospital in south London.<ref name="mddus 2011" /><ref name="Pulse 13Jan2013">{{Cite news |date=13 January 2013 |title=Professor Clare Gerada: How does she do it? |url=https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/working-life/working-life/professor-clare-gerada-how-does-she-do-it/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |work=Pulse}}</ref> She qualified as a GP in 1992<ref name="Pulse 13Jan2013" /> and started work in general practice in Lambeth, London, the same year.<ref name="rcgp" />
She has cited her main areas of work as being around mental health and substance misuse. She has spent her professional career leading the development of primary care substance (alcohol, drugs) services in England. In 2000, she established the Substance Misuse Unit at the RCGP.<ref name="mddus 2011" /> She has been Director of Primary Care for the National Clinical Governance Team and Senior Medical Advisor to the Department of Health.<ref name="rcgp" /> She is one of the partners in the Hurley Group, which runs many GP practices and walk-in centres across London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us: GP partners |url=http://hurleygroup.co.uk/about/who-we-are/ |access-date=5 October 2014 |publisher=Hurley Group}}</ref>
In November 2010, she became chairperson of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners for a three-year term.<ref name="rcgp">{{Cite web |title=Clare Gerada Biography |url=http://www.rcgp.org.uk/news/clare_gerada_rcgp_chairperson.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130191736/http://www.rcgp.org.uk/news/clare_gerada_rcgp_chairperson.aspx |archive-date=30 January 2012 |access-date=12 February 2012 |publisher=RCGP}}</ref> She was the college's first female chairperson for 50 years, the previous female chairperson having been Dame Annis Gillie.
In September 2013, she was appointed as the chairperson of the Clinical Board, Primary Care Transformation, NHS England (London Region), to take up the position the following month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Caroline |date=5 September 2013 |title=Gerada set for NHS England role to 'transform' primary care in London |url=http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/commissioning-news/gerada-set-for-nhs-england-role-to-transform-primary-care-in-london/20004226.article |access-date=28 May 2017 |work=Pulse}}</ref> She resigned from this position in April 2015 so she could speak out against what she calls the Conservatives' "desperate quest for privatisation".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lind |first=Sofia |date=30 April 2015 |title=Gerada quits NHS England to be able to speak out on NHS privatisation |url=http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/political-news/gerada-quits-nhs-england-to-be-able-to-speak-out-on-nhs-privatisation/20009881.article |access-date=28 May 2017 |work=Pulse}}</ref>
In April 2016, she was elected to the council of the Council of the British Medical Association (BMA).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Neil |date=15 April 2016 |title=Former RCGP chairperson Dr Clare Gerada among doctors elected to BMA council |url=http://www.gponline.com/former-rcgp-chairperson-dr-clare-gerada-among-doctors-elected-bma-council/article/1391353 |access-date=28 May 2017 |work=GP Online}}</ref>
She established the Practitioner Health Programme to support general practitioners, dentists and other health professionals with mental health and associated issues. In March 2019, the Care Quality Commission rated the service outstanding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHS GP burnout service rated 'outstanding' by CQC {{!}} GPonline |url=https://www.gponline.com/nhs-gp-burnout-service-rated-outstanding-cqc/article/1580421 |access-date=2019-03-29 |website=www.gponline.com}}</ref>
In September 2016, she was named as one of the Liberal Democrats' "new Beveridge group" of advisers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Denis |date=16 September 2016 |title=Lib Dems poised to back dedicated tax to help rescue NHS |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/16/lib-dems-dedicated-tax-rescue-nhs |access-date=28 May 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> She had been a lifelong supporter of the Labour Party until the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staunton |first=Denis |date=24 April 2017 |title=Lib Dems energised by sound of Brexit opportunity knocking |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/lib-dems-energised-by-sound-of-brexit-opportunity-knocking-1.3059331 |access-date=28 May 2017 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>
In 2020, she published the book, ''Beneath the White Coat: Doctors, Their Minds and Mental Health'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Book review: Beneath the White Coat – Doctors, their minds and mental health |work=BJGP Life |date=19 December 2020 |url=https://bjgplife.com/book-review-beneath-the-white-coat-doctors-their-minds-and-mental-health-clare-gerada/ |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref> and in 2024, ''Handbook of Physician Mental Health''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Harrison |first1=John |title=Handbook of Physician Mental Health Clare Gerada |journal=Occupational Medicine |date=1 August 2025 |volume=75 |issue=6 |pages=379–379 |doi=10.1093/occmed/kqaf003}}</ref>
In 2019, Gerada established the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service, a service delivering care to those affected by gambling related harms. The service works closely with a number of third sector (charitable) providers as well as general practitioners. In August 2021, she was elected as RCGP president, succeeding Amanda Howe, and taking up the role on 20 November 2021 for a two-year term.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Haynes |first=Luke |date=2 August 2021 |title=Professor Dame Clare Gerada elected RCGP president |url=https://www.gponline.com/professor-dame-clare-gerada-elected-rcgp-president/article/1723785 |access-date=29 December 2021 |work=GP Online}}</ref>
She is a patron and past chair of the charity Doctors in Distress,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charity overview |url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1184953&SubsidiaryNumber=0 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=apps.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact and trustees |url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1184953&SubsidiaryNumber=0 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=apps.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> which aims to reduce suicides amongst doctors and other health care workers. It was set up after the suicide of cardiologist Dr Jagdip Sidhu, in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=British Cardiovascular Society |url=https://www.bcs.com/pages/news_full.asp?NewsID=19792749 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=www.bcs.com| date=17 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Louie |first=Smith |date=December 14, 2018 |title=Boss delivers post van gift thief to cops |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mirror/20181214/281599536591648 |access-date=2024-08-11 |via=PressReader}}</ref> It exists with the goal of zero suicides amongst doctors by 2025. "DiD have many laudable ways of reaching this target but we have a most urgent priority which is to create a network of facilitated therapeutic spaces where doctors can talk about the emotional impact of their work, gaining support from each other, in a safe, non-stigmatising environment."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctors in Distress |url=https://www.facebook.com/DoctorsinDistress/posts/2136835816608090 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sidhu |first=Amandip |date=2020-06-06 |title=Amandip Sidhu talks about Doctors in Distress and the need for psychological PPE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXTqT8zcX4 |website=You Tube}}</ref>
In October 2025, Gerada was nominated for a life peerage by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to sit as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.<ref name="HOLAC">{{cite web|url=https://lordsappointments.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-22-HOLAC-XBENCH-PEERS-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf|title=Two new non-party-political peers|publisher=House of Lords Appointments Commission|date=22 October 2025|accessdate=23 October 2025}}</ref> She was created '''Baroness Gerada''', of Kennington in the London Borough of Lambeth on 24 November 2025.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64915|page=22598|date=27 November 2025}}</ref>
===Media appearances=== * In February 2012, she appeared in the BBC Radio 4 series ''Great Lives'', nominating Vera Brittain.<ref name="greatlives">{{Cite web |title=Vera Brittain |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019rpw0 |access-date=12 February 2012 |website=BBC Great Lives}}</ref> * In February 2013, she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by ''Woman's Hour'' on BBC Radio 4.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130419233540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb/features/power-list-100 BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Power list]</ref> * On 29 March 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 4's ''Any Questions?'', which was broadcast from St. George's Chapel, Chatham.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC RADIO 4s Any Questions? to broadcast from Medway |url=http://www.medway.gov.uk/information/newspages/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=5068 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423235709/http://medway.gov.uk/information/newspages/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=5068 |archive-date=23 April 2013 |access-date=1 February 2013 |publisher=Medway Council}}</ref> * On 13 May 2013, she debated the NHS with Chris Skidmore MP on BBC's ''Daily Politics''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2013 |title=Politics Show on NHS reforms. |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-22512787 |access-date=13 May 2013 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> * She was named as one of the "top 500 Influential Britons" by ''The Sunday Times'' and Debrett's in January 2014,<ref name="Debretts">{{Cite web |title=Debrett's 500: Healthcare: Prof Clare Gerada MBE |url=http://www.debretts.com/people/debretts-500/healthcare/prof-clare-gerada-mbe |access-date=11 May 2014 |publisher=Debrett's}}</ref> and number 4 in Health.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2014 |title=In full: The Sunday Times' list of 500 most influential Britons in healthcare |url=http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/home/useful-resources/in-full-the-sunday-times-list-of-500-most-influential-britons-in-healthcare/20005667.article#.Uu61oBaGnww |access-date=7 October 2019 |website=Pulse}}</ref> * On 19 January 2023, she appeared on the BBC '' Question Time'' panel. * In 2024, she debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe with "50 Minutes to Save the NHS," a comedy show promoted as such. She performed 17 shows over 16 days alongside her co-presenter, Dr. Phil Hammond. All proceeds were donated to Doctors in Distress.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Hammond and Dame Clare Gerada: Fifty Minutes to Save the NHS |url=https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/phil-hammond-and-dame-clare-gerada-fifty-minutes-to-save-the-nhs |access-date=19 February 2025 |archive-date=4 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804055354/https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/phil-hammond-and-dame-clare-gerada-fifty-minutes-to-save-the-nhs |website=Edinburgh Festival Fringe |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Duo Joke Their Way to Saving the NHS |url=https://www.medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/doctor-duo-joke-their-way-saving-nhs-2024a1000c6t? |first=Siobhan | last=Harris | date=1 July 2024 |access-date=19 February 2025 |website=Medscape UK |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gerada is married to Sir Simon Wessely, a professor of psychiatry. He was knighted in 2013.<ref name="Guardian Wessely knight">{{Cite news |date=30 December 2012 |title=New Year honours 2013: the full list |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/dec/30/new-year-honours-list-2013 |access-date=27 May 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
She was one of the first people in the UK to self-isolate publicly when she contracted coronavirus during a trip to New York in March 2020. She described it as the "worst illness I've ever had".<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 March 2020 |title='Worst illness I've ever had' says former RCGP chair recovering from COVID-19 |url=https://www.gponline.com/worst-illness-ive-ever-had-says-former-rcgp-chair-recovering-covid-19/article/1677258 |access-date=29 March 2020 |publisher=GP Online}}</ref>
She gave an interview from home to ''Good Morning Britain'', which entertained viewers when she was interrupted by her phone and her dog.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 March 2020 |title=Coronavirus survivor becomes Good Morning Britain hero as phone keeps ringing and dog interrupts interview |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/16/coronavirus-survivor-becomes-good-morning-britain-hero-phone-keeps-ringing-dog-interrupts-interview-12403334/ |access-date=29 March 2020 |publisher=Metro}}</ref> In her spare time, Gerada is a keen bridge player.<ref>{{cite web |title=Congratulations to Dame Clare Gerada DBE |url=https://www.bridgewebs.com/monday2/page26.html |website=www.bridgewebs.com |publisher=The Monday Bridge Club |access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>
==Awards and honours== * Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners * Member and Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists * Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians<ref name="nuff">{{Cite web |title=Dr Clare Gerada |url=https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/person/dr-clare-gerada |access-date=27 May 2017 |publisher=Nuffield Trust}}</ref> * 2012, Honorary member of Malta's National Order of Merit<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 December 2012 |title=Republic Day honours and awards |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2012-12-13/local-news/Republic-Day-honours-and-awards-532742144 |access-date=29 May 2017 |work=Malta Independent}}</ref> *2015, Honorary Fellowship University of London<ref>{{Cite web |last=UCL |date=2022-09-22 |title=List of Honorary Fellows |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/governance-compliance/honorary-awards/list-honorary-fellows#2015 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Governance and compliance |language=en}}</ref> *2017, William Pickles Medal, Royal College of General Practitioners<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerada |first=Clare |title=William Pickles Lecture |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320109123}}</ref> *2018, Doubleday Award: contribution to patient involvement<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Doubleday/Manchester Award |url=https://www.doubledayfund.org.uk/the-doubleday-manchester-award |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.doubledayfund.org.uk}}</ref> * 2019, Royal Society of Medicine Wall of Honour<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal College of Psychiatrists |url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.rcpsych.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> * 2020, Association of Anaesthetists Award<ref>{{Cite web |title=Association Award recipients {{!}} Association of Anaesthetists |url=https://anaesthetists.org/Home/About-us/Honours-awards/Association-of-Anaesthetists-Award/Association-Award-recipients |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=anaesthetists.org}}</ref> * 2021, Medical Professional Liability Association Humanitarian Award * 2022, Life Fellow of the Institute of Group Analysis * 2022, British International Doctors Association (BIDA) Special Award * 2023, Honorary Doctorate, Royal College Surgeons of Ireland * 2023, Honorary Fellowship, Royal College Public Health * 2024, Visiting Professor Institute of Medicine, University of Bolton * 2024, Medal for Moral Impact, Institute of Medical Ethics
Gerada was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honours for service to medicine and to drug misusers,<ref name="indie">{{Cite news |date=17 June 2000 |title=Full list of honours |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/full-list-of-honours-715323.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223002425/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/full-list-of-honours-715323.html |archive-date=23 December 2009 |access-date=12 February 2012 |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to general practice.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63135|supp=y|page=B8|date=10 October 2020}}</ref>
==Selected publications== * {{cite book |last1=Gerada |first1=Clare |title=Beneath the white coat: doctors, their minds and mental health |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |location= |isbn=978-1138499737 |edition=1}} *{{cite book |last1=Gerada |first1=Clare |title=Handbook of Physician Mental Health |date=2024 |publisher=Routledge |location= |isbn=978-1032479866}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerada, Clare}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:British general practitioners Category:British people of Maltese descent Category:British women medical doctors Category:Alumni of the UCL Medical School Category:Fellows of the Royal College of General Practitioners Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Category:Wives of knights