John Plaistowe Horder

John Plaistowe Horder (9 December 1919 – 31 May 2012) was an English physician who worked as a general practitioner (GP). He led community based health services in the National Health Service. He was described as the "father of modern general practice" and also as "the Pope of Portuguese general practice". Prior to having her children, Horder's mother Emma, played the violin and attended the Royal Academy of Music. He was educated at Lancing College, Sussex. He was at one time president of the section for general practice at the Royal Society of Medicine. On taking up the role of RCGP president, Horder discovered that for young GPs, the college had uncertain significance and questionable meaning, with time constraints being a key issue.

He chaired the review of general practice that produced The Future General Practitioner: Learning and Teaching. In addition, he was deeply involved in developing and implementing vocational training for general practice.

Horder was the first British general practitioner to be selected as a consultant to the World Health Organization. Much later, he was deeply involved in the Defeat Depression campaign, organised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the RCGP.

Selected publications General Practice Under the National Health Service 1948–1997. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998. (Editor with Irvine Loudon & Charles Webster)

Autobiography Horder's autobiography was published in a series of instalments in the London Journal of Primary Care: "An Account of My Life", Vol. 1 (2008), No. 1, pp. 51–54. (Part 1) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 1 (2008), No. 2, pp. 119–121. (Part 2) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 2 (2009), No. 1, pp. 74–76. (Part 3) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 2 (2009), No. 2, pp. 172–174. (Part 4) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 3 (2010), No. 1, pp. 59–61. (Part 5) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 3 (2010), No. 2, pp. 120–123. (Part 6) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 4 (2011), No. 1, pp. 80–83. (Part 7) "An Account of My Life", Vol. 4 (2012), No. 2, pp. 144–146. (Part 8) "An Account of My Life – Reflection", Vol. 4 (2012), No. 2, pp. 147. (Reflection)