My name: Debbie Fenn

Name when at MGGS if different: Debbie Taylor

Years when at MGGS: 1974 – 1979

My career to date has been:

I left MGGS in 1979. I was determined to pursue a career in Medicine and re-sat two of my A levels to improve my grades. I started at the London Hospital Medical School in September 1980. At Medical School, my interests included the Drama Society – something sparked at MGGS – and I was also a member of the Social Committee and spent time helping to organise the Medical School Balls!

I qualified as a doctor, in January 1986, and worked as a house officer at the Maidstone Hospital for six months from February to July 1986. Following on from this I completed my house officer year at Whipps Cross Hospital in London, from August 1986 to January 1987.

I did my GP training in Hemel Hempstead from 1987 to 1990. During this period, I worked in a hospital for two years and spent one year in a GP Practice. This Practice – Parkwood Drive Surgery – was a large Training Practice, and this ignited my interest in GP Education. As the local Trainee representative, I attended GP meetings at the BMA in London and also GP Trainer Selection Committees in the Hammersmith Hospital.

My GP Career started in February 1990 when I was appointed a partner at the College Practice in Maidstone. This was also a busy town Practice with an ethos for innovation and education. I had my two children, James, born in 1991, and Sian, born in 1994, in Maidstone. Both of my children attended the Grammar schools in Maidstone, MGS and MGGS. 

In 2002 I completed the training to become a GP Trainer and from then on hosted GP Trainees in the Practice. We also supported medical students and school pupils who had an interest in Medicine. On one occasion I supported a medical student from Japan! 

In 2007 I applied for a position in the regional Deanery Health Education England Kent Surrey Sussex (HEEKSS); this is an organisation that supports the Education and Training of Primary Care staff. I was appointed as the West Kent Associate GP Dean and supported the whole of West and North Kent, accrediting GP Trainers and supporting GP Trainees and their Trainers and GP Programme Directors. My Dean recommended that I go back to University and complete a Masters Programme in Practice Education in 2008-2011 at LSBU to enhance my career. Whilst writing my dissertation, I left the College Practice after 20 years. This was a very difficult decision to make as I really had enjoyed the clinical part of my career and supporting my patients. My specific interests included the baby clinic and patients who had challenges with their mental health. I was also well known at the Practice for organising the Christmas parties and other team building social events for 20 years!! 

After leaving the College Practice I continued working as a locum and for the Out of Hours GP Service for a few years until deciding to focus my efforts on Education. At the Deanery I had a lead role for the Educator Pathway to train future Educators, and also in supporting Training of Supervisors for other Allied Health Professionals including Paramedic Practitioners, Clinical Pharmacists and Physicians Associates. I enjoyed working alongside other professions to expand the workforce for the increasing demands on Primary Care.

In 2014 I became involved with a project working for the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group, the CCG. They trained a team of quality improvement coaches to improve the experience of patients and the workforce in Primary Care. This training was run by the Dartmouth Institute in the USA and initially was virtual, and then involved a residential course at a lakeside venue in Vermont in the fall of 2014. The scenery was spectacular! I am the only GP coach and have been the clinical lead for the project, and I still work with the CCG when needed.

In 2016 I was appointed as a Governor of the school. I have been associated with the MGGS Old Girls Society over many years and am currently on the committee. In 2016 I was involved in the inception of our local Training Hub, West Kent Education Network (WKEN). When I retired from HEEKSS in March 2018 I was asked if I would continue with my role on the WKEN Board and Operational group. Specifically, I have been the project lead for setting up Peer Mentoring in West Kent for Primary Care staff. Now in 2021 I still am actively working with WKEN and leading on the Peer Mentoring Programme.

With the COVID Pandemic in 2020 I offered my services to HEEKSS as a COVID Returner Educator. I worked supporting accreditation of Educators to release some of the team who were needed for front line care.

Other roles I have covered over the years include being on the British Medical Association (BMA) committee for Maidstone, and I have been a board member of the South East Thames Faculty of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) since 2007. I was appointed a Fellow of the RCGP in 2018.

In 2019 I was appointed as the Provost for SET Faculty. I have a role promoting the RCGP, helping to organise events and encouraging members to apply to become Fellows. 

My lasting memory of my time at MGGS is:

At MGGS my lasting memory is of my determination to get into Medical School and achieve my dream to become a Doctor. 

I enjoyed working with Miss McCabe doing community service. I regularly visited a lovely lady Eddie at Linton Hospital to play scrabble with her. Following on from this and other activities, I was very proud to be awarded the Madge Urmston Award in 1979. This was the first year that girls other than Head Girls were awarded this for services to the school and community. 

I loved competing in House Arts and taking part in school productions at MGGS and co-productions with MGS. I was in a play with my future husband, in a production of Durrenmatt’s “The Physicists” at MGS. Later we worked together as Operating Department Orderlies in Preston Hall Hospital in 1982, and eventually married in 1987 – the rest is history!