The House of Lords Appointments Commission has announced two new non-party-political appointments to the Upper Chamber, recognising leading figures in healthcare and social policy for their national contribution to public life.
Professor Dame Clare Gerada (pictured) and Polly Neate CBE have been recommended as crossbench peers, joining the House of Lords as independent members unaligned with any political party.
Professor Dame Clare Gerada has served as a practising NHS GP since 1983, with a career focused on mental health, addiction treatment, and primary care reform. She is Senior Partner at the Hurley Group, which has grown into a major network of GP and urgent care services across London, particularly in areas of deprivation.
Gerada is widely credited for her leadership roles across UK healthcare. She was Chair (2010–2013) and later President (2021–2023) of the Royal College of General Practitioners, guiding the organisation through a period of reform.
She also founded and led the NHS Practitioner Health Service, offering confidential mental health and addiction support for medical professionals, and later established the National Primary Care Gambling Service.
In addition to her clinical work, Gerada co-chaired the NHS Assembly (2019–2025), advising NHS England on delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan, and chairs the charity Doctors in Distress, which works to prevent suicide among health professionals.
Polly Neate CBE, who stepped down as Chief Executive of Shelter in April 2025 after nearly eight years, is recognised for her advocacy in housing, homelessness and women’s rights.
During her tenure, she redefined Shelter’s long-term strategy, championing greater investment in social housing, strengthening community engagement, and spearheading strategic litigation to challenge housing discrimination.
Previously, Neate was Chief Executive of Women’s Aid (2013–2017), where she delivered a financial turnaround and led the campaign that resulted in the criminalisation of coercive and controlling behaviour.
Her earlier career includes senior roles at Action for Children, overseeing public policy, communications, and fundraising, and she continues to contribute to several non-executive and voluntary boards across civil society.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission, an independent advisory body established in 2000, identifies individuals of distinction to serve as non-party-political peers on the basis of merit and expertise.
Since its creation, the Commission has recommended 78 independent peers from approximately 6,500 nominations. It also vets all life peer nominations, including those from political parties, for propriety.
The current Commission is chaired by Baroness Ruth Deech, with members including Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL, Wayne Reynolds, Rt Hon Sir Hugh Robertson, and party-nominated representatives from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Baroness Deech said the appointments reflect the breadth of professional experience and civic leadership that strengthen the crossbench contribution to parliamentary scrutiny:
“Both Dame Clare Gerada and Polly Neate have demonstrated exceptional public service and dedication to improving lives in their respective fields. Their insight will greatly enrich the work of the House.”
