The new leader of Britain’s GPs has promised to “reset” the primary care’s relationship with the government in the face of widespread anger over the treatment of practice staff.

Dr Farah Jameel, a GP in Camden, London, became the first woman elected to chair the GP committee of the British Medical Association, and stated she believed the profession could “weather the storms”. She takes over from Dr Richard Vautrey who stood down from the post following the committee’s decision to hold a ballot on prospective industrial action.

The election came as the government offered a new concession in the row over alleged bullying over face to face appointments. The concession will mean that a decision on publishing the earnings of GPs earning more than £150,000 a year will be delayed until next year. The government claims that this was agreed in its last contractual deal with the BMA – but its plans to publish earnings along with league tables of face to face appointments and new patient rating systems sparked widespread anger.

Dr Jameel said: “I don’t underestimate the difficulties that lay ahead but we must recognise this as an opportunity to reset our relationship with Government and begin to rebuild general practice. I look to use the next three years to work closely with fellow general practice leaders and grassroots GPs to design and deliver a stable and sustainable general practice, fit to serve generations of patients to come.”

She later tweeted: “Let’s write the future of NHS General Practice together. With empathy, with kindness, with humility, with courage but most importantly with the care our patients deserve at the heart of it all.”

Her appointment was welcomed by NHS England director of primary care Dr Nikita Kanani who tweeted: “I look forward to working with her to address the challenges facing general practice, both this winter and beyond, to provide the best possible care for our patients.” Dr Jameel replied: “I look forward to establishing a constructive working relationship that benefits patients, the NHS and general practice. I am certain we will find a way to weather these storms. All every GP wants is to do their best for their patients.”

The Institute of General Practice Management said: “We look forward to working with you to develop a robust and sustainable general practice where non clinical staff are recognised for the important role they play in providing first class healthcare.”