Our Executive Team & Secretariat
The Birmingham LMC executive team works on behalf of all constituents to provide operational leadership, strategic advocacy, contract guidance, and pastoral support to general practices across Birmingham.
Julie Mason
Director of Operations, Finance and Business Management
Contact: birmingham.lmc@nhs.net
Julie has been an integral part of the Birmingham Local Medical Committee since April 2012. She ensures the effective operational leadership, management, governance, and organisational development of BLMC Ltd. Julie monitors legislative changes affecting general management to maintain the financial stability and structural efficiency of the organisation. Additionally, she leads, supports, and develops the strategy and operations of the Birmingham Practice Managers Association, collaborating with the Director of Practice Support to offer comprehensive guidance to all constituents.
Stephen O’Halloran
Committee Secretary & Director of Practice Support
Stephen joined the executive team as Director of Practice Support and Committee Secretary in October 2024. Well-known across the region, Stephen previously served as a member of the Birmingham and Solihull (BSol) Peer Support Team and as Chair of the ACE Practice Managers group. With over 12 years of experience as a Practice Business Manager, backed by a 20-year career in the corporate and financial sectors in the City of London, he brings deep expertise to the business and managerial challenges facing modern general practice. Stephen leads the delivery of professional, partnership, and confidential pastoral support to all constituent GPs and practice teams.
Dr Bhinder Jheeta
BLMC Chair
Dr Jheeta has served as a general practitioner in East Birmingham since 1988. A dedicated grassroots GP with extensive experience in both large and small practices, he has been a member of the LMC for many years and was instrumental in introducing the local GP appraisal process at its inception. Dr Jheeta is an undergraduate tutor for the University of Birmingham Medical School and has successfully navigated the numerous structural transitions within primary care over his career. He is deeply committed to serving Birmingham practices and leading the LMC team to support local colleagues.
Dr Philip Downing
BLMC Vice Chair
Dr Downing graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2002 and has been a GP Partner at Karis Medical Centre, an inner-city practice, since November 2007. He joined the LMC around the same time and has served on the Executive Committee for the past eight years. Alongside his clinical role, he works across the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (ICS) as a clinical informatics lead, driving digital innovation, system efficiencies, and strategic support for general practice IT infrastructure.
Dr Vijay Rajput
BLMC Treasurer
Dr Rajput graduated from Leicester Medical School in 1983 and, alongside his wife, has successfully managed a two-doctor inner-city practice in Birmingham since 1990. As an experienced portfolio GP and medical educator, he serves as an undergraduate tutor, final-year examiner, GP Trainer (since 2000), and Training Programme Director (TPD, since 2020). Dr Rajput has also conducted GP appraisals since the scheme’s inception. He leverages his extensive background in medico-politics and healthcare governance to support and guide local practices through evolving system-wide challenges.