SSP Health, the largest GP practices business in the North West, recently celebrated the admission of its founder Dr Shikha Pitalia to the role of Fellow of the British International Doctor’s Association. The award recognises Dr Pitalia’s contribution to the advancement of the aims and objectives of the association in almost 30 years as a GP in the Wigan area.
BIDA is the most well-established organisation of its kind and has been at the forefront of supporting doctors from all ethnic backgrounds. Many members, such as Dr Pitalia, are UK medical graduates and recognise the pivotal role BIDA plays by resolving issues, raising awareness and challenge where appropriate and needed, the issues of equality and diversity in the medical profession.
Dr Shikha Pitalia, Co-Founder of SSP Health said of the news “At SSP Health, we are committed to diversity and inclusion and have doctors working with us from many different countries and with hugely diverse backgrounds. I’m proud to say that at the last count there were 20 different languages spoken by our staff of 500 and 100+ doctors.”
“We offer equal career development opportunities to all and I’m pleased that we have many doctors from different ethnic backgrounds in leadership roles. This extends to female leadership too with five out of eight in our senior leadership team being women. Our philosophy is to nurture all talent and champion inclusivity, something we want to see much more of in our profession.”
The news comes as healthcare services in the UK are facing a serious, ongoing skills shortage and recruitment crisis, requiring a fundamental change in the way in which GP surgeries recruit, are owned and organised.
For more information on SSP Health or to find your local practice visit www.ssphealth.com
