Annual Awards Recognise Excellence, Innovation & Collaboration in General Practice

GPBuddy.ie, the online resource for GPs in Ireland, has announced details of the shortlisted nominees for this year’s GPBuddy National GP Awards, in association with Affidea, Ireland’s leading independent provider of diagnostic imaging services including MRI, CT, Ultrasound, DXA and X-ray.

Now in its second year, the annual GPBuddy Awards Ceremony recognises excellence, innovation and collaboration among GPs all over Ireland. This year’s judging panel received a record number of nominations across all 12 categories, from both healthcare professionals and patients. The overall winners will be announced on Friday 22nd September by television personality and GP, Dr Pixie McKenna, at Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel.

Dr Darach O’Ciardha of GPBuddy.ie says: “We have been overwhelmed by the response this year, and the quality of entries was outstanding. It is wonderful to see so many of our colleagues recognised and honoured for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of patients all over the country.”

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 the country’s GP community. The judging panel comprises experts from across the medical, healthcare, media and business sectors.

Veronica Stewart, Client Relationship Manager at Affidea Ireland and a member of the judging panel, commented: “The high level of excellence in General Practice and the stories of GP care that go beyond the call of duty, as documented by the patients themselves, is nothing short of incredible to witness. Congratulations to all of the hard working and dedicated leaders in their fields who were nominated, which is a testament in itself.”

Tickets to this year’s event are now sold out. For more information about the GPBuddy National GP Awards 2017, please visit www.gpbuddyawards.ie

Shortlisted Nominees 2017:

GP Trainee of the Year
Dr Muiris O’Sullivan (Sligo GP Training Scheme)
Dr Paul Ryan (Cork GP Training Programme)
Dr Jim Collier (Trinity College Dublin GP Training Scheme)

Practice Administrator / Practice Manager of the Year
Noelene Reynolds (Dun Laoghaire Surgery, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin)
Elaine Vaughan (Wilton Medical Centre, Wilton, Cork)
Margaret Malone (Thomas Court Primary Care Centre, Dublin 8)

Practice Nurse of the Year
Colette Gibbons (Louisburgh Medical Practice, Louisburgh, Co Mayo)
Janet Dunne (The Surgery, Skerries, Co Dublin)
Carol McDonagh (Ardara Health Centre, Ardara, Co Donegal)

GPs in the Media
Dr Muiris Houston (GP, Galway)
Dr Nick Flynn (Hollyhill Surgery, Hollyhill, Cork)
Dr Eamonn Shanahan (Farranfore Medical Centre, Farranfore, Co Kerry)

Rural Practice of the Year
Dr Laura Noonan and Dr Davina Hoban (Health Centre, Ballymahon, Co Longford and Health Centre, Ballymore, Co Westmeath)
Dr Molly Maclochlainn Row and Dr Margaret McGloughlin (Dunlavin Family Practice, Dunlavin, Co Wicklow)
Drs Charlie and Evelyn McManus (Dunkineely Health Centre, Dunkineely, Co Donegal)

GP Research of the Year
Dr Conor O’Kelly, Dr Paul McElhinney, Dr Joe Clarke, Dr Zita O’Reilly (Trinity College Dublin)
Dr Des Crowley (Mountjoy Street Medical Practice, Dublin 1)
Dr Paula Greally and Dr Linsey Mason (Western House Medical Centre, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and Waterford Health Park, Waterford)

GP Trainer of the Year
Dr John Ball (The Avenue Family Practice, Killester, Dublin 5)
Dr Frank O’Leary (Oakwood Medical Clinic, Castleknock, Dublin 15)
Dr Michael Kennedy (Old School House Surgery, Buttevant, Co Cork)

Best GP & Hospital Collaboration
Healthmail – Gemma Garvan, (HSE, Dr Steevens Hospital, Dublin 1)
Vista Eye Clinic – Dr Kevin Tempany (Vista Eye Clinic, Naas, Co Kildare)
Loughlinstown Hospital Local Integrated Care Committee – Dr Nicola Cochrane (Carrig Clinic, Greystones, Co Wicklow)

Innovation in Practice
Dr Ciara McDonald (Tramore Medical Clinic, Tramore, Co Waterford)
Dr Tommy Lynch (Sligo GP Training Scheme)
Dr Ming Rawat (Calderwood Family Clinic, Drumcondra, Dublin 9)

Establishing GP of the Year
Dr Laura Noonan (Health Centre, Ballymahon, Co Longford and Health Centre, Ballymore, Co Westmeath)
Dr Yvonne Dawson (Bellview Clinic, Mullingar, Co Westmeath)
Dr Rukshan Goonewardena (GP, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan)

Patients’ Choice Award
Dr Bernard Healy (Moorefield Medical Centre, Newbridge, Co Kildare)
Drs Evelyn and Charlie McManus (Dunkineely Health Centre, Dunkineely, Co Donegal)
Dr John Sweeney (Stranorlar Health Centre, Stranorlar, Co Donegal)

GP of the Year
Dr Charlie McManus (Dunkineely Health Centre, Dunkineely, Co Donegal)
Dr Eileen O’Connor (Louisburgh Medical Practice, Louisburgh, Co Mayo)
Dr Emmet Kerin (Treaty Medical Centre, Limerick)

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.

Dr Ronan Margey, Consultant Cardiologist at Cork's Mater Private Hospital, will be a judge for #gpbuddyawards, sponsored by @AffideaIreland! pic.twitter.com/IIVNzanPzj

— GPBuddy (@gpbuddy) September 5, 2017

We are happy to welcome Hermitage Medical Clinic as a sponsor of #gpbuddyawards, in association with @AffideaIreland https://t.co/kf9X20ygzI pic.twitter.com/VHm6K8U2AG

— GPBuddy (@gpbuddy) September 6, 2017