University of Bristol doctor named ‘Local GP Hero’

Dr Dominique Thompson

Press release issued: 11 September 2014

Dr Dominique Thompson, Director of the Students’ Health Service at the University of Bristol, has been named a ‘Local GP Hero’.

Dominique has worked at the University’s Students’ Health Service for over 10 years and instigated the innovative First Step eating disorder service for young people.

She has been recognised in the medical publication Pulse for her achievements and campaigning, which has made practical differences to those in her care and to the awareness of young people’s health UK-wide. This won her second place in the new ‘local GP heroes’ category.

The First Step programme provides care within the GP surgery for those suffering from eating disorders, and aims to help patients before their symptoms intensify and require treatment elsewhere. The service also streamlines the referral process for those who are in need of more specialised treatment.

The successful University of Bristol pilot led to First Step being rolled out across Bristol in July 2013. The programme is popular with GPs and enjoys on-going, citywide funding. Dominque is now turning her attentions to improving the care offered to those at risk from the dangers of self-harm.

Outside her GP and University role, Dominique is honorary secretary of the Student Health Association, and is an active campaigner for young people’s health - lobbying the government to ease financial pressures on specialist student practices, which have been disproportionately hit by recent changes to GP funding.

On finding out that she had been selected as a local GP hero, Dominique said: “it has been a real honour and delight to be nominated by my peers as a ‘Local Hero GP’, and for there to have been national recognition of the importance of student health, an issue I am passionate about.

“I strongly believe and campaign for equality of funding for young people’s healthcare, as we need to support the next generation and care for them at a vulnerable time in their lives.”

Previous to working at the University of Bristol, Dominique was an expedition medic with Raleigh International and worked as a police surgeon caring for victims of rape and sexual assault. She has a special interest in mental health and in dermoscopy.

Further information

The Pulse Power 50 2014

The ‘Local GP Hero’ award was a new category for 2014, which asked GPs all over the UK to nominate local hero GPs. Thirty were nominated, and the final five were selected via a panel.