A Glossopdale GP who has led the team overseeing the vaccination programme in the area has been recognised by her peers with a prestigious accolade.

Dr Veena Jha, a partner at the Manor House Surgery, has been made a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the professional body for GPs across the UK.

Fellowships are a mark of achievement, excellence and recognition for an individual GP’s contribution to general practice, and medicine.

Dr Jha said: “It is such a prestigious thing to have. I was really delighted and had a little bit of disbelief. It is really fantastic.”

Dr Jha will be honoured at a ceremony later this year when her family, who have supported her throughout her career, will be celebrating with her.

The accolade has been welcomed by Dr Jha’s patients who posted their congratulations and messages on Facebook.

“When I read the patients comments it was the best feeling I can think of,” said Dr Jha, who started her career as a gynaecologist before going into general practice.

She said being a GP means rather than treating a particular problem, you treat the whole person, and it is a much more holistic approach.

“You know the families, I have seen them as children and then as adults, the different stages of life, the whole picture,” she said.

Since it was formed in 2019, Dr Jha has been the clinical director of the Glossop Primary Care Network.

“It means that I have had to be heavily involved with Covid management strategies and Covid vaccination programme. I am very proud of the way the whole team has responded.”

She praised the fantastic support received from Glossop and Tameside CCG and Tameside Hospital in getting the vaccination centre up and running and is pleased with the number of vaccinations they have been able to administer.

“I feel very proud of that achievement, making a difference to people’s lives during a pandemic that, we will hopefully never see the like of again in our lifetime.”

Dr Jha added: “We have created over the last couple of years a very strong team that I can see play a major part in improving healthy outcomes for Glossopdale patients going forward.

“I will always feel proud of the fact I have been first PCN Clinical Director and helping to bring this forward.”

Her first love is General Practice and Dr Jha feels it is vital that she continues to see her patients.

“I can never leave Glossop. As long as I am around, I will be working,” she said.

“Having a strategic role means looking at the bigger picture, but still providing clinical care is important to that.

“You need to be there to understand the wider requirements and health needs of patients.”

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