GPBuddy.ie & Affidea Ireland winners of National GP Awards 2017

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GPBuddy.ie & Affidea Ireland winners of National GP Awards 2017

GPBuddy.ie, the online resource for GPs in Ireland, has revealed the winners of the 2017 GPBuddy National GP Awards, in association with Affidea, Ireland’s leading independent provider of diagnostic imaging services.

Now in its second year, the annual GPBuddy Awards recognise excellence, innovation and collaboration among GPs all over Ireland. The winners were announced at a gala ceremony hosted by television personality and GP, Dr Pixie McKenna, at Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel.

Speaking at the event, Dr Shane McKeogh of GPBuddy.ie, said: “GPs at all stages of their careers are caring for patients, families and communities. These awards are about recognising the unsung healthcare heroes among us, and the innovation and dedication that can often be taken for granted. Sincere congratulations to all of the deserving winners. We hope that this event will encourage GPs throughout the country to continue to innovate and inspire new ways of improving patients’ lives.”

As the first and only awards ceremony of its kind in Ireland, the GPBuddy Awards offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the dedication, commitment and innovation of Ireland’s GP community. This year’s judging panel, comprising experts from across the medical, healthcare, media and business sectors, received a record number of nominations across all 12 categories.

Tom Finn, CEO of title sponsor Affidea Ireland, commented: “Affidea is delighted to partner with the GPBuddy National GP Awards. At a time when the role of the GP continues to grow and adapt, it is our great pleasure to join in honouring the hard work and dedication of GPs and their practice teams all around the country.”

GPBuddy National GP Award Winners 2017

GP Trainee of the Year
Dr Paul Ryan (Cork GP Training Programme)

Dr Ryan completed the Cork GP Training Programme this year. As a dual-qualified GP and pharmacist, his final year project looked at implementing a national primary care prescribing formulary in nursing homes. In addition, he is medical officer for the Cork City Hospital Children’s Club, where he volunteers on a regular basis.

Practice Administrator / Practice Manager of the Year
Margaret Malone (Thomas Court Primary Care Centre, Dublin 8)

Margaret Malone is practice manager at the Thomas Court Primary Care Centre, based in Dublin’s Liberties area. She played a key role in the successful integration of the practice into its current multi-disciplinary setting, which involved both moving premises and introducing various new services.

Practice Nurse of the Year
Colette Gibbons (Louisburgh Medical Practice, Louisburgh, Co Mayo)

Colette Gibbons joined her current practice in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo in 2004. She has since undertaken a huge workload and now provides many new services, which previously required patients to travel 40km to Mayo General Hospital.

GPs in the Media
Dr Nick Flynn (Hollyhill Surgery, Hollyhill, Cork)

Dr Flynn works as a GP in Hollyhill in Cork. He is a regular contributor to both local and national media, acting as an advocate for patients in the area. He is hugely active on social media, with a Twitter following of more than 4,000, and also hosts a local Facebook discussion once a week to discuss patient issues.

Rural Practice of the Year
Drs Charlie and Evelyn McManus (Dunkineely Health Centre, Dunkineely, Co Donegal)

Drs Charlie and Evelyn McManus have dedicated the last two years to re-establishing and renovating Dunkineely Health Centre in Donegal. Since joining the practice, they have introduced specialised minor surgery clinics, alleviating patient waiting lists and travel time to the nearest hospitals. They are also planning monthly diabetic and COPD clinics in the near future.

GP Research of the Year
Dr Conor O’Kelly, Dr Paul McElhinney, Dr Joe Clarke, Dr Zita O’Reilly (Trinity College Dublin)

This team from Trinity College Dublin carried out a study to successfully demonstrate a cost effective and time efficient opportunistic screening method for atrial fibrillation that is easily incorporated into everyday general practice.

GP Trainer of the Year
Dr Frank O’Leary (Oakwood Medical Clinic, Castleknock, Dublin 15)

Dr O’Leary is a GP trainer for 2nd Year trainees on the TCD GP Training Scheme. He is also a tutor to 1st Meds in Trinity College Dublin in their Human Development, Behavioural Science and Medical Ethics Course.

Best GP and Hospital Collaboration
Vista Eye Clinic – Dr Kevin Tempany (Vista Eye Clinic, Naas, Co Kildare)

Led by Dr Kevin Tempany, the Vista Eye Clinic in Naas provides specialised Ophthalmological care to both public and private patients in a community setting. The clinic allows for patients to be seen, diagnosed and treated quickly, by skilled medical staff in modern, local facilities.

Innovation in Practice
Dr Ming Rawat (Calderwood Family Clinic, Drumcondra, Dublin 9)

Dr Rawat is a GP at the Calderwood Family Clinic in Drumcondra and an assistant programme director on the North Dublin GP Training Programme. Over the last year, she has introduced an integrated health program at the practice, which incorporates Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses, Balint sessions, yoga and resilience building workshops. She has also extended the module to trainees on the North Dublin GP Training Programme.

Establishing GP of the Year
Dr Laura Noonan (Health Centre, Ballymahon, Co Longford and Health Centre, Ballymore, Co Westmeath)

Dr Noonan took over a rural GP practice in Longford/ Westmeath in August 2016 after the sudden death of the GP Principal. She has dedicated the last year almost entirely to building a better service for her patients, while herself battling serious illness. She is also the current Director of the ICGP Network of Establishing GPs.

Patients’ Choice Award
Drs Evelyn and Charlie McManus (Dunkineely Health Centre, Dunkineely, Co Donegal)

Donegal-based husband and wife team Drs Evelyn and Charlie McManus were nominated by their patients for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty. They were acknowledged equally for their outstanding care to patients of all ages, and their utmost generosity of time.

GP of the Year
Dr Emmet Kerin (Treaty Medical Centre, Limerick)

Dr Kerin trained as a GP on the Limerick GP scheme. He found his passion for General Practice in his Rural GP registrar year working with his mentor Dr Kieran Murphy from Athea. He went on to establish a new practice, Treaty Medical Centre in Limerick, with Dr Jason McMahon in 2012. His practice came to prominence when he appeared on the Brendan O’Connor TV show as he and his partner worked over 11 jobs in an effort to get it off the ground. As of 2017, Treaty Medical Practice has eight staff with three GPs and a second nurse starting soon. Dr Kerin was elected President of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) in 2016.

About GPBuddy.ie

GPBuddy.ie is the most widely used online resource for GPs in Ireland, comprising a comprehensive database of medical and healthcare professionals as well as educational modules, an ‘ask the expert’ section, a classifieds section and discussion forums. Over 2,700 GPs in Ireland use GPBuddy.ie on a regular basis.

About Affidea

Affidea entered the Irish market in 2007 through the acquisition of MRI Ireland. Over the past decade, ten locations have been added to the network in Ireland, with state-of-the-art centres opening in Waterford and Tallaght this year, as part of a €15m investment in the Irish healthcare sector. Affidea, which employs approximately 300 people, will invest an additional €25m in the next two years, with further centres expected in Galway and Limerick in 2018. This autumn, Affidea will also start treating minor injuries and offering additional services at its centres in Dublin and Cork, expanding to all clinics nationwide by 2020.

Affidea Group offers premium diagnostic imaging, cancer detection and cancer treatment services, with a focus on delivering prompt yet thorough diagnoses and high-quality treatments by working only with the latest technology and experienced medical professionals.
 
Over the years, Affidea has built a solid foundation in Private Public Partnerships. The company works closely with governments to provide essential diagnostic and cancer treatment services to populations across its ever-expanding European network. Affidea operates 235 diagnostic and cancer treatment centres in 17 countries across Europe. The company employs over 4,400 professionals, of which more than 1,000 are medical doctors.
 
In the changing climate of healthcare service provision in Europe, Affidea has developed a unique business model and value proposition based on Positive Patient Experience, Proven Medical Outcome and Performance Improvement. By focusing on these principles, Affidea is able to provide exceptional value for all its stakeholders. These are patients, who experience the service; physicians, who refer patients for diagnostic imaging; and authorities of the public healthcare system, who regulate the operating environment and bear the cost of the public service.

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Sep 2017
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