Louise Irvine

Marie-Louise Irvine was born in Paisley, Scotland.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/14897151.doctor-louise-irvine-bids-to-protect-the-nhs-by-unseating-health-secretary-jeremy-hunt/|title=Doctor Louise Irvine bids to protect the NHS by unseating Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt |first=Martin |last=Hannan |work=The National |date=17 March 2015 |access-date=1 December 2020}} She attended Harlaw Academy in Aberdeen.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/17/jeremy-hunt-nhs-gp-louise-irvine |title=GP Louise Irvine: 'Jeremy Hunt has not been a good steward of the NHS' |first=Hélène |last=Mulholland |work=The Guardian |date=17 May 2017 |accessdate=20 May 2017}} She studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a MBChB in 1981.

Irvine helped set up the Scottish Medical Aid for Nicaragua in 1980, raising funds for, and helping to set up a medical centre in San Juan del Sur.{{cite news |author= |title=Scots doctor returning to strife-torn country |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19840321&id=_cBAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2qUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4183,4721283|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|location=Glasgow |page=10 |date=21 March 1984|accessdate=17 January 2015}} She worked as a volunteer primary care doctor in Nicaragua 1983–85 before she returned to the UK and trained as a general practitioner in the west of Scotland. In 1995 she became a GP partner at Amersham Vale Practice in Lewisham. {{As of|2017}}, she is a practice trainer for GP registrars and works part-time at the practice. In 2002 she became a Programme Director for the GP training scheme in Lewisham. She also holds a Diploma from the Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Medicine, a Diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners.{{cite web |title=The Doctors|url=http://amershamvale.co.uk/doctors |publisher=Amersham Vale Practice |accessdate=20 May 2017}} She has an MSc in general practice from King's College London. She founded ArtsLift, a project that allowed people with mental health problems to gain access to arts classes.

In April 2012, she was elected to the Council of the British Medical Association for a four-year term.{{cite journal |title=New BMA council members back action to repeal health act |first=Ann |last=McGauran |journal=BMJ |date=1 May 2012 |volume=344 |pages=e3092 |doi=10.1136/bmj.e3092|pmid=22550351 |s2cid=34466609 }}{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/bmj.e3089 |title=BMA announces results of 2012 council elections |first=Helen |last=Jaques |journal=BMJ |department=Careers |volume=344 |pages=e3089 |date=28 Apr 2012|s2cid=79506585 }} She was elected again in 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/six-gps-elected-to-serve-on-bma-council/20031618.article |title=Six GPs elected to serve on BMA Council |first=Iona |last=Twaddell |work=Pulse |date=15 April 2016 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}

In 2001, Irvine led a group that campaigned for the London Borough of Lewisham to open a new state secondary school in New Cross.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1433699.stm |title=Parents angry over school places |first=Sean |last=Coughlan |work=BBC News |date=11 July 2001 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2002/jan/29/schools.schooladmissions |title=First refusal |first=Jane |last=Kemp |work=The Guardian |date=29 January 2002 |accessdate=20 May 2017}} When the "New School for New Cross" campaign failed to gain support from established parties, they formed their own political party which they named Leap (Local Education Action by Parents).{{cite news |title=Parents get political over school places|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1874650.stm |first=Sean |last=Coughlan |work=BBC News |date=15 March 2002|accessdate=18 January 2015}} The party fielded six candidates in local elections and Irvine stood as a candidate for the Mayor of Lewisham.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/vote-parents-if-you-want-to-raise-standards-9169634.html |title=Vote 'Parents' if you want to raise standards |first=Sarah |last=Richardson |work=The Independent |date=24 April 2002 |accessdate=20 May 2017}} One of the Leap candidates won a seat in the Telegraph Hill ward.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2002/may/03/schools.uk3 |title=Candidate makes a leap for education |first=Polly |last=Curtis |work=The Guardian |date=3 May 2002 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}

In October 2012, plans to reduce casualty and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital were announced, after a neighbouring hospital trust ran up large debts. The "Save Lewisham Hospital campaign" was founded and held protests with Irvine as the chair.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21196758 |title=Lewisham Hospital: 15,000 march against closure plan |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2017 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21707338 |title=London mayor heckled by Lewisham hospital campaigners |work=BBC News |date=7 March 2003 |accessdate=20 May 2017}} On 31 January, the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt announced casualty and maternity units at Lewisham Hospital would be downgraded.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21269910 |title=Lewisham Hospital: A&E cut over neighbouring trust debt |work=BBC News |date=31 January 2013 |accessdate=20 May 2017}} The campaign group took the case to the High Court which ruled in July 2013 that the Health Secretary had acted outside his powers.{{cite news |title=Jeremy Hunt's Lewisham hospital cuts plan quashed at High Court|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23518732 |work=BBC News |date=31 July 2013|accessdate=18 January 2015}} In October the Government appealed, and was again defeated.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/29/lewisham-hospital-jeremy-hunt-unlawful |title=Jeremy Hunt loses appeal as Lewisham hospital cuts ruled illegal |first=James |last=Meikle |work=The Guardian|date=29 October 2013 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}

In November 2012, the National Health Action Party (NHA Party) was formed, with Irvine a founder member.{{cite news |url=https://www.gponline.com/dr-louise-irvine-why-doctors-formed-political-party-save-nhs/article/1160135 |title=Dr Louise Irvine: why doctors formed a political party to save the NHS |first=Marina |last=Soteriou |work=GP Online |date=15 November 2012 |accessdate=1 December 2020}} Irvine was a candidate for the NHA Party in the 2014 European Elections,{{cite web |title=Campaigning Lewisham GP to stand in Euro elections for new National Health party|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/caroline-molloy/campaigning-lewisham-gp-to-stand-in-euro-elections-for-new-national-health-pa|accessdate=18 January 2015}}{{cite news |title=New Cross GP who led campaign to save Lewisham Hospital stands for European Parliament |url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10959918.New_Cross_GP_who_led_campaign_to_save_Lewisham_Hospital_stands_for_European_Parliament/ |first=Sarah |last=Trotter |work=www.thisislocallondon.co.uk |publisher=Newsquest |date=23 January 2014|accessdate=18 January 2015}} saying that

"The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats outrageously broke their pre-election pledges that there would be no top down re-organisation of the NHS and no NHS privatisation."

In September 2014, she announced that she would be contesting the parliamentary seat of South West Surrey for the NHA Party, the seat of Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary.{{cite news |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/jeremy-hunt-facing-election-battle-7728097 |title=Jeremy Hunt facing election battle with GP Louise Irvine |first=Andrew |last=Gregory |work=Surrey Advertiser |date=5 September 2014 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}{{cite web |title=Health secretary Jeremy Hunt faces seat challenge from one of country's top doctors|website=Daily Mirror |date=5 September 2014 |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/health-secretary-jeremy-hunt-faces-4172993|accessdate=18 January 2015}}{{cite news |title=Daily Politics Show appearance, 31 January 2014|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25982713|accessdate=18 January 2015}}

She cited the record of the current Health Secretary as her reason for standing in South West Surrey:

"I’ve faced Jeremy Hunt in the courts - and beaten him twice. Now I’ll face him at the ballot box.

"He needs to be held to account for what he’s doing to our NHS and the way in which he has bulldozed democracy, changing the law to push through hospital closures when he was beaten in court.

"I am very concerned that our beloved NHS is being run down, privatised, fragmented and underfunded.

"This is an issue that affects everyone in the country. If we don’t all stand up for it now, it will be destroyed."

In March 2015, Queen guitarist Brian May launched the "Common Decency" campaign, naming Irvine alongside six already-serving MPs, saying: "We think you’re decent people, we think you represent your constituents and your conscience so we’re going to tell our people to try and cluster round and give you support."{{cite web|title=Brian May Is On A Mission To Save British Democracy|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/is-this-just-fantasy |first=Emily |last=Ashton |work=BuzzFeed |date=3 March 2015 |accessdate=24 March 2015}}

In the general election on 7 May 2015, Irvine received 4,851 votes, putting her in fourth place.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/17/jeremy-hunt-nhs-gp-louise-irvine|title=GP Louise Irvine: 'Jeremy Hunt has not been a good steward of the NHS' {{!}} Hélène Mulholland|last=Mulholland|first=Hélène|date=2017-05-17|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-10-11|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

In May 2017, a "progressive forum" was organised by the South West Surrey Compass group. This selected Irvine as the candidate best placed to oppose Jeremy Hunt. The Green Party withdrew their candidate and members of the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party agreed not to campaign.{{cite news|title=Progressive alliance: Greens, Labour and Liberal Democrats unite to take down Jeremy Hunt|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-stands-down-to-help-nhs-doctor-win-against-jeremy-hunt-a7723491.html |first=May |last=Bulman |work=The Independent |date=8 May 2017 |accessdate=9 May 2017}} Labour promptly expelled three senior local party members on account of their involvement with this alliance.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/09/labour-expels-south-west-surrey-members-attempt-unseat-jeremy-hunt |title=Labour expels three members over attempt to unseat Jeremy Hunt |first=Jessica |last=Elgot |work=The Guardian |date=9 May 2017 |accessdate=20 May 2017}}

In the general election on 8 June 2017, Irvine received 12,093 votes, coming second to Hunt, who received 33,683 votes.{{Cite news | title=Surrey South West | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000953 | publisher=BBC News | accessdate=9 June 2017 }}

In October 2014, she appeared in the London Evening Standard's "top 1000 most influential people in London" feature, in the section covering campaigners.{{cite web |title=The 1000: London's most influential people 2014 - Campaigners|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2014--campaigners-9789797.html |work=London Evening Standard |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=18 January 2015}}

In January 2015, she was nominated for the 2015 Sheila McKechnie Foundation campaigning award.{{cite web |title=SMK Award Nominations 2015|url=http://www.smk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SMK-Awards-Brochure-February-2015.pdf |page=7 |publisher=Sheila McKechnie Foundation |accessdate=20 May 2017}}

Irvine is married to a retired paediatrician and is the mother of two children.

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Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century British medical doctors

Category:21st-century British women medical doctors

Category:National Health Action Party parliamentary candidates

Category:People educated at Harlaw Academy

Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen

Category:British general practitioners

Category:21st-century Scottish women medical doctors

Category:21st-century Scottish medical doctors