Learning from History: Primary Care Reforms’, using Art to explain.

Our second meeting took place on Wednesday 13th November at the Cedars School. There was a short agenda prior to the Speaker’s talk.

• Dr Dev Malhotra was introduced as a new member
• Dr John Spicer and Dr Louise Newlands were welcomed as new Committee Members
• Reminder about getting teams together for the Christmas Quiz on 10 December
• Overdue subscriptions to be paid asap
• Nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award – note the deadline of 30 November – details on the website
• Reminder to please use our new website as it is very user friendly

The President went on to introduce the speaker, Dr Nav Chana who is well known to many of us in Croydon. Nav has been a GP at the Cricket Green Practice in Mitcham for many years. He has always been heavily involved in Education and Primary Care development at local and national level. He was warmly congratulated by the Society for his recently awarded MBE.

Nav gave a very entertaining talk on lessons learnt from changes in the health service illustrated using art. Nav showed us his wide knowledge of art, for which he clearly has a passion. This was an eye-opener for those of us used to a more cursory viewing! The development of the NHS was examined up to the present day up to the aspirations for the new Primary Care Networks. We were reminded that 90% of determinants of health are social and also to beware the “cobra effect”! If you weren’t at the meeting you should look it up. The evening concluded with a lively discussion.

Peter Boffa