A transformation manager from a GP practice in east London has been crowned Healthcare Leader of the Year at an event honouring excellence in primary care.
Virginia Patania of the Jubilee Street Practice in Tower Hamlets won the award against stiff competition at Friday’s 11th annual GP Awards GP Awards at a glitzy ceremony held at the Park Plaza Westminster hotel in London.
The GP Awards – held each year by Healthcare Leader’s parent company Cogora – shines a light on the remarkable work carried out by Britain’s primary care professionals every day.
Ms Patania dazzled the judges with her tireless commitment in improving primary care leadership in her area.
‘I cried when I found out’
She commented: ‘Fronting innovation can feel harder than it looks. It takes a lot of paddling under the water, and a lot of energy – more than people realise. The fact that this journey is valued and shared means everything.
‘I won’t even pretend to be cool: I cried when I saw the results on Twitter [when I was] visiting my family for Thanksgiving in New York – we were playing Trivial Pursuit and I sent the pieces flying. Bring on the next ten years.’
The other finalists for the category were:
- Dr Agnelo Fernandes
- Dr Ann Baldwin
- Kay Keane
