House of Lords gets two new clinican members

Professor Geeta Nargund, fertility specialist, and Professor Dame Clare Gerada, former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, have been given peerages.

Professor Nargund is the founder and former medical director of CREATE Fertility, founder and trustee of the Health Equality Foundation and lead consultant for reproductive medicine at St George's Hospital NHS Trust in London. She was one of 25 people nominated by the leader of the Labour Party to receive a life peerage in December 2025. Professor Nargund is also a vice chair of the British Red Cross, a member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and pro-chancellor (health equality) at the University of Portsmouth.

'This is an incredible opportunity to advocate for health equality and women's health at the highest level of government, causes that have been at the heart of my work throughout my career,' said Professor Nargund. 'Access and outcomes in healthcare should not be determined by geography, income, or background. In the House of Lords, I will continue to champion policies that address health inequalities, support medical innovation, and ensure that every person and family can access the care they need.'

Professor Nargund has written several articles for BioNews over the past decade, discussing issues including ethnic disparities in gamete donors (see BioNews 1237) and a rise in the average age of patients starting fertility treatment (see BioNews 1262).

Professor Nargund has also spoken at several PET (Progress Educational Trust) events, including 'Is Fertility Treatment a Solution to Population Decline?' (see BioNews 1283, 1286 and 1290). Citing an Economist Impact report on fertility policy and practice to which she contributed, she described how a panel of experts reviewed and rated various policy approaches according to the strength of evidence and the likely effect on birth rates. She noted that the analysis suggested the greatest impact would come from improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of childcare, with workplace and assisted conception policy jointly ranked next.

Professor Nargund has been a vocal advocate for addressing inequalities in fertility treatment. Response to HFEA data revealing ethnic disparities in outcomes, she stated that 'there is no room for the health inequalities that exist within fertility treatment', calling for tangible changes to prevent black, Asian and ethnic minority patients from being left behind (see BioNews 1220). She will be discussing this issue in February 2026, at an online PET event entitled Ancestry, Ethnicity, IVF Outcomes: Why Do Some Patients Fare Better than Others?.

'We are immensely proud that Professor Geeta Nargund will join the House of Lords. Her appointment is a testament to her extraordinary contributions to medicine, women's health, and health equality both nationally and internationally,' said Professor Graham Galbraith, vice chancellor of the University of Portsmouth.

The announcement of the Labour peerages follows the appointment of non-party-political peers recommended by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, including Professor Dame Clare Gerada. Professor Gerada previously served as both chair and president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. The Appointments Commission cited her extensive NHS career, her leadership in primary care mental health and her efforts in developing services for disadvantaged patients.

Professor Gerada has also contributed to fertility policy discussions through PET. At an event entitled 'NHS Fertility Treatment: Wouldn't It Be NICE to Have a Workable Guideline?', she criticised the ongoing 'postcode lottery' in NHS-funded IVF provision, and called on GPs to lobby commissioners for more equitable access and better guidance (see BioNews 1193, 1194a, 1194b and 1199).

The PET event Ancestry, Ethnicity, IVF Outcomes: Why Do Some Patients Fare Better than Others? is taking place online on Wednesday 4 February 2026.

Speakers at the event will include Professor Geeta Nargund. Find out more and register here.