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In a letter to Londonwide LMCs' members yesterday, Dr Drage said her new name is Michelle.

‘I am writing to inform you that after careful consideration and thought and with the support of my family, friends and colleagues, my name and gender has changed permanently from Stewart Drage to Michelle Drage with immediate effect,’ the letter says.

Dr Drage is also joint chief executive of Londonwide LMCs.

Despite standing for re-election as a negotiator at yesterday's meeting in London, Dr Drage lost out to Devon GP Dr Beth McCarron-Nash. The rest of the negotiating team remains unchanged.

Dr Drage said: 'Congratulations to Peter (Holden), Beth and Richard (Vautrey) and whilst it is disappointing for me personally, they can be assured of my continued support as an active member of the GPC.

'As joint chief executive officer of Londonwide LMCs I, along with my colleague Dr Tony Stanton, have a huge amount of work to do to ensure that general practice is not destabilised as a result of the major changes being planned and implemented across London's NHS. There will always be another election.'

nick.bostock@haymarket.com

Full text of Dr Drage's letter

Editor's blog: A gender for change
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