A DOCTOR has said he is “humbled” at being made an MBE for his work with violent patients.

Dr Sanjoy Kumar, from Woodford Green, was included in today's New Year Honours list for seeing hundreds of patients who have been violent to healthcare staff.

The 40-year-old GP, who works at the Larkshall Medical Centre in Chingford, is also a forensic medical examiner for the police, and won ‘Doctor of the Year’ at the Redbridge Community Awards in 2008.

He said: “I first got word of it about six weeks ago but nothing is certain until it's all published, so obviously I didn't say anything before today.

“I feel very humbled to have my work recognised in this way.

“If a patient is violent towards any member of NHS staff, they get referred to me. I do a full risk assessment and take them onto my books for a year to rehabilitate them.

“We're been very successful as we have had no re-offending. It's down to spending lots of time with the patients, and really getting to know them and what causes their violent behaviour.

“It's challenging work and sometimes life-threatening. I have police present when I consult and I could not do it without them.

“The next mission is to do some work on sharing information among doctors about terrorism, to help them spot certain things and report it through the right channels.”

After graduating from Kings College London, Dr Kumar spent time studying in Ireland, where he met his future wife Sinead.

The couple have two children, four-year-old Grace and James, who is two.

He added: “I'm a local boy so I know the community well. I went to Bancroft's School in Woodford, and after going off to university and I coming back I've been involved in the community.

“The practice where I work has been there for more than 35 years and was set up by my mother, who still works there.”

In February last year, the Guardian spoke to Dr Kumar after he and his colleagues saved the lives of three teenage stab victims who were attacked just yards from the surgery.

His father, Sanjit Kumar, who is practice manager at the Larkshall Medical Centre, said: “I'm very proud.

“I only found out about it this morning when I came to work. He never told us anything about it.

“My first reaction was that this is tremendous news. I was literally over the moon.”