Award-winning GP lauded by Prime Minister

A doctor who works closely with The Tinnitus Clinic and assisted in compiling its First Appointment Guide has met the Prime Minister after being shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

The only single-handed GP in the country to be rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Dr Gabriel Hendow, 72, travelled to meet Theresa May after being shortlisted for the National Health Hero Award.

Dr Hendow, who has been a GP for 25 years and has specialist interest in ear, nose, and throat care, started his career in Iraq. Born in Basra, he served in the military during Arab-Israeli conflict. After his service ended he studied for a postgraduate degree in General Surgery in Baghdad.

Dr Hendow’s father was a family doctor and was appointed physician at the Health Authority for Basra and Director for the Centre of Endemic Diseases for Southern Iraq. The family helped to eradicate malaria in the region – achievements which have cemented the Hendow name in Iraqi medical history.

Aged 32, Dr Hendow moved to the UK where he went on to work in orthopaedics at London’s Whittington Hospital, Grantham, King Edward VII in Sheffield, and Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop. He left to pursue General Practice as he missed interacting with his patients in Surgery.

He said:

“I’ve always wanted to get to know my patients, understanding their background and treating them as individuals. For me, being a doctor is the same as being a friend, a shoulder to cry on and someone to laugh with.”

Dr Hendow has introduced several new initiatives to benefit healthcare at his current practice, Bransholme Health Centre in Hull. He started a Food Clinic to improve the way people cook and help with weight loss, blood pressure and improved cholesterol. Dr Hendow has also set up an Exercise Clinic and Teenage Healthcare Clinic, as well as developing a Home Monitoring Service, using volunteers to visit frail and vulnerable patients.

Dr Hendow continued:

“It’s taken me years to change the work culture within my practice. Family medicine is such a unique area. It’s not about issuing unnecessary prescriptions. It’s about listening, interacting and having a holistic approach to patients and their families’ overall need.”

As well as winning the RCGP Humber and the Ridings Faculty Award for Celebrating Good Practice, Dr Hendow has also been shortlisted for Hull Daily Mail Health and Care Awards. His work has seen him recognised in The Times Alternative Rich List and he was offered a place to join NICE Guideline Committee for Tinnitus but he was unable to accept the offer due to travel and work commitments.

Dr Hendow was also recently filmed for a documentary being created to celebrate the NHS turning 70 and it will be aired later this year.

Josephine Swinhoe, Managing Director of The Tinnitus Clinic, said:

“We’re so proud of Gabriel and all his achievements. He is a real inspiration and we look forward to continuing our close work with him well into the future.”

For more information about The Tinnitus Clinic visit www.thetinnitusclinic.co.uk follow @TinnitusClinic on Twitter, or like The Tinnitus Clinic page on Facebook.