The GPCPC Board 2025
Dr Elizabeth Daprè
Chair
Dr Daprè is a GP and NIHR Clinical Fellow in Greater Manchester. She has a special interest in improving interventions for the modification of risk factors in high-risk pregnancies throughout the perinatal period, with a particular focus in diabetes, cardiometabolic medicine, and improving health inequality.
Dr Clare Macdonald
Membership Secretary
Dr Macdonald is a GP in Leicester and an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at University of Birmingham researching postnatal care in primary care. Her PhD explored the 6-8 week maternal postnatal check from the perspectives of women and GPs. She is interested in infant feeding and postnatal care.
Dr Kiran
Baillal
Secretary & First5 GP Representative
Dr Baillal is a GP in Greater Manchester. She represents local and regional early career GPs on various forums and has interests in health inequalities and medical education. She is passionate about equitable perinatal care.
Dr Kirsty
Biggs
Treasurer
Dr Biggs is a GPST3 and NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow at QMUL. She has a BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Science and a special interest in infant feeding, with a focus on education and improving the medical curriculum.
Dr Victoria Silverwood
Board Member
Dr Silverwood is a GP in Macclesfield, Cheshire and an NIHR funded Academic Clinical Lecturer in primary care at the School of Medicine, Keele University. Her PhD explored interventions for perinatal anxiety across primary and community care and her primary research focus as a post-doctoral researcher is perinatal mental health in primary care.
Dr Dhiviya Tharan
Board Member
Dr Tharan is an NHS GP working in Salford, Greater Manchester who has specialist interests in child health (MRCPCH) and women’s health (DRCOG). She has experience working with deprived and refugee patient populations and is interested in reducing inequity in the delivery of postnatal care in general practice.
Dr Louise Santhanam
Board Member
Dr Santhanam is a GP in London with an interest in perinatal mental health and infant feeding. She has co-developed educational resources and guidance on perinatal topics for GPs and has previously worked on enhancing local perinatal services.
Dr Yusuf
Shittu
First5 GP Representative
Dr Shittu is a GP in Leicester with interests in Maternal and Child Health. He also co-founded a platform called MamaDoc which supports black/brown migrant parents in the UK throughout pregnancy, birth and parenting with expert-led guidance and support.
Dr Emma Thornton
GP Registrar Representative
Dr Thornton is a GPST3 in Greater Manchester with a previous background in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about reducing health inequalities in maternity care, improving perinatal mental health and how digital health technologies can be used achieve these aims.
Dr Kayleigh Lawrence
GP Registrar Representative
Dr Lawrence is a GPST3 and Future Leaders Fellow with the GP School in the Yorkshire and Humber region, where she focuses on advancing social accountability in healthcare. She is particularly interested in improving awareness and access to postnatal contraception, addressing health inequalities, and championing health equity.
Dr Yasmin Essalmi
GP Registrar Representative
Dr Essalmi is a GPST3 in Leicestershire with an MSc in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research. She is passionate about perinatal care, particularly improving the GP 6-8 week maternal postnatal consultation, promoting physical activity in the perinatal period, and enhancing GP training.
GPCPC Board September 2025
With thanks to past GPCPC Board and Committee Members who supported its foundation and development:
To June 2026: Dr Judy Shakespeare (Founder of GPCPC), Dr Rehana Meeajan, Dr Becky MacGregor
Pre 2026: Dr Anu Jacob, Dr Kathy Smith, Dr Sarah Hillman, Dr Julia Darko, Dr Suresha De Almeida