This piece was published on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day.
Dr Oge Ilozue receives the LMC member award for NCL, presented by Dr Lisa Harrod-Rothwell and Montrose Bill from sponsors MIAB.
At the London General Practice Awards held on February 5, 2026, Oge was the winner of the London LMC Member Award: North Central London.
Reflecting on her achievement, she shared, “I find the London General Practice Awards very affirming. They have been a great reminder that the work we do, which can feel endless at times, is recognised, seen, and valued – and that it truly is of value. It is not about seeking external validation, but it is lovely to know that people have looked at what we do and think, ‘This is something valuable you’re adding to your community.’ It is a real encouragement to keep putting in the hard work.”
A legacy rooted in family and community
In discussing her journey, Oge highlighted the profound influence of her late mother, Dr Stella Okonkwo, whose legacy continues to shape Brunswick Park Medical Practice.
“The big legacy is my dear mother of blessed memory, Dr Stella Okonkwo — everything I am is because of her,” Oge shared. “She’s my ultimate inspiration and mentor, and the same to so many people — the patients, staff, as well as families.”
Dr Okonkwo, who arrived in the UK in the 1960s and trained at Newcastle Medical School in the 1970s, dedicated more than 30 years to the Barnet community after joining the practice in the early 1990s.
“She ran this practice and showed me how to do it,” Oge said. “I really follow in the footsteps of greatness. Her belief in people, whether staff or patients, and her encouragement for them to fulfil their potential, continues today. That is the foundation on which we run the practice.”
Evolving patient demographics
Brunswick Park Medical Practice has seen its patient population continue to evolve, reflecting broader demographic shifts across the region. Now caring for approximately 9,300 patients, Oge describes its population as “average-sized but growing,” with a rich diversity in both background and health needs.
“It is a mixed population. There’s diversity in terms of means,” Oge explained. “We have an older population, but we are also seeing more young families, and a mix of people with long‑term conditions. We are big on trying to optimise treatment for those conditions while also managing on‑the‑day demand.”
Oge emphasised that understanding the subtleties of the local community is central to providing high‑quality care. “I think as GPs, the ultimate privilege is to be there for people from cradle to grave — for all members of a family — and to understand the demographics of that particular, nuanced community,” she said.
She noted that while London is known for its tightly packed postcodes, neighbouring areas can have strikingly different health profiles and needs.
“The beauty of general practice is that you are plugged into one patch, and you get to know that patch over time. Then you can formulate the services and care your patients need. To me, that is the beauty, the awesomeness, and the value we can bring as GPs and as GP teams,” Oge said.
A specialty built on relationships
“I have always said that we need our brightest and our best in general practice. It is one of the hardest specialties out there. I do not think we are as valued as we could be, but I think that tide should change because we can value ourselves and understand the value we bring.”
“For me, I have always been a strong advocate of general practice. I chose it specifically. I could have done general medicine or acute medicine, but I chose general practice — not just because of the example of my mother, but because you must align the specialty with your personality. I get bored easily. I like variety. I am genuinely curious and interested in people and their stories.”
Oge described the unique continuity general practice offers, enabling clinicians to walk alongside patients through every stage of life.
“I love general practice for the idea that you can really follow people’s journey and follow their story and be there with them. I count it as the ultimate privilege to be there in the highs and the lows of someone’s health journey.”
For her, the essence of the profession lies not in quick interactions but in long-standing connections. She continued, “General practice is about establishing those relationships with your team, with your patients, and following that on over time. There are no shortcuts.”
Community care
The practice stood out for its award‑winning initiatives and its unwavering commitment to delivering high‑quality, compassionate care to the Barnet community.
Oge shared, “Our practice has been highly commended and awarded in the NCL Valued Awards for a service delivery programme. There is a one‑stop dementia clinic that we have continued. It is once a year, with several clinics over several afternoons where we invite patients living with dementia along with their carers. We have organisations such as Age UK and The Carers’ Centre there, and it is a one‑stop clinic where the patients can plug into all the services — not just medical — that can help support them. One of our GPs is a lead on that and has kept it going, and that is incredible.”
She continued, “Our practice is remarkable in that we have different people who have different interests, and they bring those skills back into the practice. The dementia clinic is one example. We also have a diabetes lead who focuses on really trying to optimise diabetes care because we have quite a large population with diabetes.”
“We have practice nurses that go above and beyond every time. Although they have many cases, when they do have a gap, they call parents to discuss vaccines, inviting them in if they are worried about anything, and reaching out to make sure asthma checks are done and patients are optimised.
We have receptionists who know these patients and look out for them. It is about treating people as they are and meeting them where they are.”
“Everyone is so well intentioned and really wants to give their best, no matter the busyness of the day. That is the privilege of working in a team that looks out for each other so that we can then look out for our patients,” Oge said with a smile.
Challenges
Despite its successes, the practice faces growing pressures — particularly around space and capacity.
“One of the issues we face is space — we are running out of space for other people that we want to fit in. We want to invest in digital tools, increase capacity, and we want to really value the staff in terms of their working conditions.”
She emphasised that sustainable investment is essential for the future of general practice.
“For the sustainability of general practice, we need that investment so we can really invest in our staff and our surroundings and provide care that is above and beyond for our patients.”
Collective strength
“We always say we stand on the shoulders of greatness, and we continue that despite all the challenges, workload and difficulties of this age. If we show up for each other at work, we can show up as the best versions of ourselves for our patients. That is the ethos we use — and hopefully we can continue,” Oge concluded.