GP cooking for homeless and visiting elderly as Santa shows community care matters

Phillip Bennett-Richards has been a GP in Tower Hamlets, London, for decades and also trains new doctors. He believes doctors must be active in their local communities. Outside his regular practice, he cooks meals for homeless shelters and dresses as Father Christmas to visit elderly residents.

Bennett-Richards argues that long-term relationships between patients and their doctors form the backbone of good general practice. "Continuity of care is the cornerstone of general practice and the powers that be would do well to remember that. The trust that's built up over years from continuity of care is really important for patients, practitioners, and the whole community," he says.

Many healthcare systems now push for instant access models, where patients can see any available doctor quickly rather than book appointments with their regular GP. Bennett-Richards warns this approach carries risks. He says failing to balance instant access with continuity "is going to harm overall care."

Bennett-Richards started working on Tower Hamlets' Aberfeldy Estate in 2000 alongside colleague Sarah Pitkanen. They opened their practice in a converted lock-up shop with minimal resources.

For Bennett-Richards, being embedded in his community is not separate from his job as a doctor—it is part of it. His work with homeless people and elderly residents reflects his conviction that doctors should know and understand the neighborhoods where their patients live.