Local healthcare partnership identifies 70 stars of health and social care

Sinc 1948, health and social care has transformed the wellbeing of people living across south west London. In celebration of the NHS’s 70th year, the South West London Health and Care Partnership is profiling some of the people who help make this possible.

From GPs to community nurses, volunteers to public health teams, they worked with NHS trusts, local authorities and the voluntary sector to highlight the work of just 70 of our stars of health and social care.


Karen Harris

One of the 70 is Karen Harris, Practice Manager at Putneymead Medical Centre on the Upper Richmond Road, the largest practice in Wandsworth. Karen joined the NHS in 1982 in rural Northampton and returned to London in 2000, joining an inner-city practice with a diverse patient base.

Karen joined Putneymead Medical Centre in 2003, which was then based in a large Georgian House, and was invited to become a Management Partner in 2008. She said: "For me, the very best part of working in south west London is my own team of 80 staff at Putneymead who are the most dedicated, professional, caring and hard-working people.

“Patient care is changing, demand is increasing, and we are having to look at resources to support these changes. We have therefore diversified our workforce to support our 22 GPs. We now have two Physicians Associates, a Clinical Pharmacist, two Health Care Assistants and have just completed the training of five Medical Assistants. We also have a team of in-house Counsellors and provide Mindfulness Group Therapy.

“I think my proudest moment was being invited to join Putneymead as a Partner. We have grown together and I feel I have probably reached the top of my career pathway. I have been privileged to work with some great Partners over the years.

“A close runner up would be the inauguration of Putneymead in July 2011, which was attended by Putney MP Justine Greening. It marked the culmination of our move, between 2008 and 2010, from three separate GP practices in Putney into one practice based in new, refurbished premises. We are now the largest GP practice on a single site in Wandsworth.

In the annual patient survey rating GPs and surgeries across Wandsworth, Putneymead recevied an overall satisfaction rate of 88% - the lowest rating received by a practice was 80% and the highest was 96%. You can download the report to see how your practice faired.

August 24, 2018