19 May 2021
To all general practice and LMCs in north east London
Dear colleague
On behalf of the whole CCG we are writing to you to express our sincere thanks for the incredible hard work and selfless dedication you have shown over the past more than a year since the start of the pandemic. At the beginning you showed great flexibility and innovation to adapt to new technology that enabled vulnerable people to continue to be seen virtually, at home and in safety, whilst continuing to see patients face to face where necessary, demonstrating incredible courage and dedication in the face of personal danger.
We have lost beloved colleagues along the way, and I know many of you will have personal friends amongst them. They placed themselves in the line of danger to protect others, and we mourn their loss together, as family.
You have also worked tirelessly since December, many of you with very little rest, in order to deliver millions of vaccines to keep our residents safe, for which we are truly grateful.
I know that many of you have been hurt and upset by the unjust and inaccurate criticism that has appeared in the national press, suggesting that general practice should now ‘re-open’. We know that this is not the case, and that you have all been working incredibly hard throughout to provide care to all your patients, clinically triaging them so that all our residents and patients can be seen in the safest, most appropriate way - including face to face throughout.
We are incredibly thankful for everything you have done for our patients and our NHS staff, and that you continue to do this. If there is anything we can do to help you further to support our patients and NHS staff family please contact us.
With very best wishes
Henry, Jagan and Marie
Henry Black
Acting Accountable Officer, NHS North East London CCG
ICS SRO NHS North East London Health & Care Partnership
Dr Jagan John
Chair, NHS North East London CCG
Marie Gabriel CBE
Independent Chair, NHS North East London Health & Care Partnership