A GP who set up a vaccination service that gave out 60,000 jabs during the first few months of the Covid crisis has been made an MBE.

Harrow GP Meena Thakur, who has been a partner at Stanmore’s Honeypot medical centre for nearly 30 years, organised volunteers to protect the most vulnerable during the pandemic.

She also championed the care of frail elderly patients in their own homes to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

Now she has been named on the 2024 New Year Honours list for her services to the NHS

“We strive to make a positive difference to the lives of our patients and community,” she said. “I have cared for my community for more than 29 years.”

Her practice has expanded three-fold since she joined and now serves 17,500 patients in its new purpose-built surgery complex in Honeypot Lane with an expanded team of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals of pharmacists, physiotherapists and a paramedic.

Dr Thakur is also clinical director of Harrow East Primary Care network of GP practices serving 38,000 patients including Mollison Way and Bacon Lane surgeries, and is trainer for junior doctors to become GPs as vice-chair of Harrow Local Medical committee.

She had previously worked on projects with Age UK Harrow, such as chair-based exercises for the elderly and a “home not hospital” service, as well as setting up a GP ‘same day’ access hub with appointments in the evenings and weekends. 

Primary Care Trust manager Shelley Taylor said: “Dr Thakur has shown vision and innovation to improve GP services in Harrow to help make sure patients receive the right care at the right time, in the face of extreme pressures on the NHS. She has helped improve GPs’ resilience to manage their workload by helping to make sure practices are equipped to meet the ever-changing needs of our growing population.”

Dr Thakur “goes above and beyond” in her duties as a GP who often works round the clock to meet increasingly complex needs of patients with compassion. She is described by the care trust as “an inspiration to the community” while actively leading on changes and improvements to the NHS.