GP OF THE YEAR AWARD COMES TO OMAGH
GP of the Year' award comes to Omagh
by Olga Bradshaw
A POPULAR and much respected Omagh doctor has brought the title of 'GP of the Year' west of the Province for the first time in the five-year history of the prestigious Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards.
Dr. Irfran Hassan, who has been the driving force behind a number of innovative projects to help those with addiction problems and those who have mental illness, said the award was not merely a recognition of his own efforts, but also the team of people he worked with.
Dr. Hassan, who is based at Omagh Health Centre, was nominated by colleagues and peers from within the healthcare sector, who deemed him to be a GP who had demonstrated an 'outstanding dedication and commitment to the medical profession'.
Events co-ordinator for the awards, Ms. Susie McDonnell, said from the nominations received, it was clear that many of his colleagues felt that Dr. Hassan was deserving of the tribute, due to his efforts within cardiac rehabilitation and mental health spheres, having played a leading role in the introduction of a practice based community mental health service and in setting in place a cardiac rehabilitation service.
"Dr. Hassan has also been heavily involved in caring for the victims of the Omagh bombing having received an award of recognition for his dedication to the victims," she said.
Dedication
The primary aim of the event is to recognise the achievements and dedication of healthcare professionals here.
In his speech at the awards ceremony and reception in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on Saturday, which was held to honour all the health care professionals nominated, Dr. Hassan said he was 'really grateful' for the award as it was primarily a recognition of the fact that good medical practice was still thriving in small towns and villages in Northern Ireland.
Thanking the judges, sponsors and those responsible for the awards, Dr. Hassan went on to thank, firstly, his wife, Ishrat, whom, he joked, had to put up with an absent husband on many an evening. He also thanked his children.
Among his closest medical staff whom he singled out for praise was Mrs. Carmel McGrath, the practice manager, based at Omagh Health Centre.
"She has had her heart broken by my constant demands to fit in various meetings for the projects in the day-to-day work in general practice," he said, adding that he also wished to thank Bernie Marlow, the mental health project nurse, and Patricia McCartland, the nurse involved in the cardiac project.
He went on to thank the other partners in his practice, and Dr. Maura Brisco of the Department of Health and Social Services, who was responsible for securing funding for the mental health project, and those responsible for securing funding for the cardiac project.
Dr. Hassan also had praise for consultants, Dr. Clive Russell at Tyrone County Hospital, and Dr. Tom Foster, a consultant psychiatrist at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, for their guidance and support, and he also paid tribute to Mr. Eugene Gallagher, director of primary care in the Western Health Board, staff in the primary care department and Frances Taylor, manager of mental health at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Honour
Asked what the award meant to him, Dr. Hassan said it was an honour for a country GP to be given the award, and added that he felt humble about it.
"It is the team. It is not my recognition, it is recognition of a team, the members of which have put in a lot of hard work, with the support of the Trust and the board. Without their support it would not be possible because they were always available for advice and guidance when these two projects ran into difficulties," Dr. Hassan said.
He continued: "The staff are delighted that the award has come west. This is the first time that this has occurred," he said, adding that the competition had been running for five years.
Dr. Hassan said that a number of accolades were bestowed on people working as health professionals in the west, including Dr. Geraldine McGovern, who was based in Fermanagh, and Dr. Michael Herron, from Carrickmore, both of whom were running projects for patients.
"I would like to congratulate them as well," he said.
Having won a major accolade, you might be forgiven for thinking that Dr. Hassan planned to take things a little easier for a while. But this is not the case.
New project
"We are involved now in a new project in which we are looking at heart failure patients and their diagnosis
and management in primary care under the guidance of Dr. Clive Russell.
"In mental health we are looking at rehabilitation of patients with alcohol-related problems in the community, under the guidance of Frances Taylor. The plan is to buy a house and have staff, trained staff, there in the facility so that these patients, instead of having them admitted into acute medical or psychiatric beds, we will try to rehabilitate them in the community so that they will benefit rather than stigmatise them," he said.
On a personal level, however, Dr. Hassan said he was both 'happy and satisfied' that he was able to serve the community and that this service had been recognised by the award.
Dr. Kieran Deeny, the chairman of the Omagh and District GPs Association, of which Dr. Hassan is the vice-chairman, said everyone in the association was 'absolutely delighted' that their colleague had received the award.
"We knew that he was nominated for it, and everybody in is area is delighted. Irfran is an extremely caring man and he certainly deserves this
award.
"Irfran is an example to all of us. He cares a lot and he does a lot of work unnoticed and out of hours. He is very concerned about people and what they get by way of care and services in this area, and he has certainly been an example to me about services - i.e. the hospital situation.
Exemplary
"He gives a lot of his time voluntarily and from that point of view he is exemplary. For someone who grew up in another country to come here and show such concern for people here, for our own people, is a marvellous example. We are all very fond of him and congratulate him," Dr. Deeny said.
Praising the work of Dr. Hassan, councillor and fellow GP., Dr. Josephine Deehan, said she was 'absolutely delighted' that Irfran had been selected for the award.
"He is a very hardworking, enthusiastic and committed doctor, who has contributed greatly to patient care in this area over the years.
"He is very innovative and has been responsible for the introduction of new ideas to enhance patient care services. I want to extend to him my warmest congratulations," Dr. Deehan said.
Mr. Stanley Millar, chief officer of the Western Health and Social Services Council, commended Dr. Hassan on his success.
"I have known Dr. Hassan as a general medical practitioner based in Omagh Health Centre for the past 25 years. He is a popular and well-respected doctor, who provides an excellent service to his patients," Mr. Millar said.
"Dr. Hassan is recognised as hard-working both within his practice and within the medical profession.
"In addition to Dr. Hassan's academic work he is a medical officer in a voluntary capacity to residents with a learning disability at Ashley House and at the Clanabogan Village Community at Omagh
"His contribution to people with a learning disability is also seen in his work with Mencap and the planning of services at Trust level. Other voluntary work is invested in his role as a member of the Ethnic Minorities Health Care Committee at the Department in Belfast," Mr. Millar said.
"Dr. Hassan has quality interpersonal and communication skills which were used to the benefit of his patients and the local community in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb and other tragic events over the past 25 years," Mr. Millar said, adding: "I have great pleasure in commending Dr. Hassan for recognition and I do so with the support of the health watchdog body, the Western Health and Social Services Council."
At the same event, Dr. Michael Herron, a GP at Carrickmore Health Centre, was one of the joint winners of the Trinity Concept Rational Prescribing Project of the Year Award.
Dr. Herron, with the support of many others has transformed the 'prescribing practice' of the Health Centre at Carrickmore, resulting in a dramatic change in the prescribing culture of its practice population.
The judges were told that from the start, and with the support of the Western Board IT adviser, Fergal Jury, the health centre invested in a state-of-the-art computerised{tab}repeat prescribing protocol and practice prescribing policy based on the best practice and best evidence.
After a full year of hard work the practice's prescribing system was acknowledged by the patients, professional colleagues, community pharmacist and prescribing advisers as being of the highest standard.
Dr. Herron said he was delighted to have won the award jointly with another recipient.
"The award means a lot to our practice and reflects the hard work and dedication of the staff. I would like to express my gratitude to Trinity for this award and for their ongoing support," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Geraldine McGovern, of Lakeside Medical Practice was also a winner, taking home the Aventis Diabetes - The Epidemic of the 21st Century Project of the Year Award.
Dr. McGovern won the award under stiff competition but the judging panel was very impressed with her initiative and hard work as she spearheaded a diabetes clinic which sought to improve patients' understanding of their condition through the supply of educational materials such as CD Roms. and material from Diabetes UK relating to the management of the condition.
"Receiving this award really means so much to me and to the rest of the practice. The prizemoney is invaluable and we will be putting it towards taking the service forward into more interesting areas which can only result in greater benefits for the patient." she said.
by Olga Bradshaw
A POPULAR and much respected Omagh doctor has brought the title of 'GP of the Year' west of the Province for the first time in the five-year history of the prestigious Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards.
Dr. Irfran Hassan, who has been the driving force behind a number of innovative projects to help those with addiction problems and those who have mental illness, said the award was not merely a recognition of his own efforts, but also the team of people he worked with.
Dr. Hassan, who is based at Omagh Health Centre, was nominated by colleagues and peers from within the healthcare sector, who deemed him to be a GP who had demonstrated an 'outstanding dedication and commitment to the medical profession'.
Events co-ordinator for the awards, Ms. Susie McDonnell, said from the nominations received, it was clear that many of his colleagues felt that Dr. Hassan was deserving of the tribute, due to his efforts within cardiac rehabilitation and mental health spheres, having played a leading role in the introduction of a practice based community mental health service and in setting in place a cardiac rehabilitation service.
"Dr. Hassan has also been heavily involved in caring for the victims of the Omagh bombing having received an award of recognition for his dedication to the victims," she said.
Dedication
The primary aim of the event is to recognise the achievements and dedication of healthcare professionals here.
In his speech at the awards ceremony and reception in the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on Saturday, which was held to honour all the health care professionals nominated, Dr. Hassan said he was 'really grateful' for the award as it was primarily a recognition of the fact that good medical practice was still thriving in small towns and villages in Northern Ireland.
Thanking the judges, sponsors and those responsible for the awards, Dr. Hassan went on to thank, firstly, his wife, Ishrat, whom, he joked, had to put up with an absent husband on many an evening. He also thanked his children.
Among his closest medical staff whom he singled out for praise was Mrs. Carmel McGrath, the practice manager, based at Omagh Health Centre.
"She has had her heart broken by my constant demands to fit in various meetings for the projects in the day-to-day work in general practice," he said, adding that he also wished to thank Bernie Marlow, the mental health project nurse, and Patricia McCartland, the nurse involved in the cardiac project.
He went on to thank the other partners in his practice, and Dr. Maura Brisco of the Department of Health and Social Services, who was responsible for securing funding for the mental health project, and those responsible for securing funding for the cardiac project.
Dr. Hassan also had praise for consultants, Dr. Clive Russell at Tyrone County Hospital, and Dr. Tom Foster, a consultant psychiatrist at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, for their guidance and support, and he also paid tribute to Mr. Eugene Gallagher, director of primary care in the Western Health Board, staff in the primary care department and Frances Taylor, manager of mental health at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Honour
Asked what the award meant to him, Dr. Hassan said it was an honour for a country GP to be given the award, and added that he felt humble about it.
"It is the team. It is not my recognition, it is recognition of a team, the members of which have put in a lot of hard work, with the support of the Trust and the board. Without their support it would not be possible because they were always available for advice and guidance when these two projects ran into difficulties," Dr. Hassan said.
He continued: "The staff are delighted that the award has come west. This is the first time that this has occurred," he said, adding that the competition had been running for five years.
Dr. Hassan said that a number of accolades were bestowed on people working as health professionals in the west, including Dr. Geraldine McGovern, who was based in Fermanagh, and Dr. Michael Herron, from Carrickmore, both of whom were running projects for patients.
"I would like to congratulate them as well," he said.
Having won a major accolade, you might be forgiven for thinking that Dr. Hassan planned to take things a little easier for a while. But this is not the case.
New project
"We are involved now in a new project in which we are looking at heart failure patients and their diagnosis
and management in primary care under the guidance of Dr. Clive Russell.
"In mental health we are looking at rehabilitation of patients with alcohol-related problems in the community, under the guidance of Frances Taylor. The plan is to buy a house and have staff, trained staff, there in the facility so that these patients, instead of having them admitted into acute medical or psychiatric beds, we will try to rehabilitate them in the community so that they will benefit rather than stigmatise them," he said.
On a personal level, however, Dr. Hassan said he was both 'happy and satisfied' that he was able to serve the community and that this service had been recognised by the award.
Dr. Kieran Deeny, the chairman of the Omagh and District GPs Association, of which Dr. Hassan is the vice-chairman, said everyone in the association was 'absolutely delighted' that their colleague had received the award.
"We knew that he was nominated for it, and everybody in is area is delighted. Irfran is an extremely caring man and he certainly deserves this
award.
"Irfran is an example to all of us. He cares a lot and he does a lot of work unnoticed and out of hours. He is very concerned about people and what they get by way of care and services in this area, and he has certainly been an example to me about services - i.e. the hospital situation.
Exemplary
"He gives a lot of his time voluntarily and from that point of view he is exemplary. For someone who grew up in another country to come here and show such concern for people here, for our own people, is a marvellous example. We are all very fond of him and congratulate him," Dr. Deeny said.
Praising the work of Dr. Hassan, councillor and fellow GP., Dr. Josephine Deehan, said she was 'absolutely delighted' that Irfran had been selected for the award.
"He is a very hardworking, enthusiastic and committed doctor, who has contributed greatly to patient care in this area over the years.
"He is very innovative and has been responsible for the introduction of new ideas to enhance patient care services. I want to extend to him my warmest congratulations," Dr. Deehan said.
Mr. Stanley Millar, chief officer of the Western Health and Social Services Council, commended Dr. Hassan on his success.
"I have known Dr. Hassan as a general medical practitioner based in Omagh Health Centre for the past 25 years. He is a popular and well-respected doctor, who provides an excellent service to his patients," Mr. Millar said.
"Dr. Hassan is recognised as hard-working both within his practice and within the medical profession.
"In addition to Dr. Hassan's academic work he is a medical officer in a voluntary capacity to residents with a learning disability at Ashley House and at the Clanabogan Village Community at Omagh
"His contribution to people with a learning disability is also seen in his work with Mencap and the planning of services at Trust level. Other voluntary work is invested in his role as a member of the Ethnic Minorities Health Care Committee at the Department in Belfast," Mr. Millar said.
"Dr. Hassan has quality interpersonal and communication skills which were used to the benefit of his patients and the local community in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb and other tragic events over the past 25 years," Mr. Millar said, adding: "I have great pleasure in commending Dr. Hassan for recognition and I do so with the support of the health watchdog body, the Western Health and Social Services Council."
At the same event, Dr. Michael Herron, a GP at Carrickmore Health Centre, was one of the joint winners of the Trinity Concept Rational Prescribing Project of the Year Award.
Dr. Herron, with the support of many others has transformed the 'prescribing practice' of the Health Centre at Carrickmore, resulting in a dramatic change in the prescribing culture of its practice population.
The judges were told that from the start, and with the support of the Western Board IT adviser, Fergal Jury, the health centre invested in a state-of-the-art computerised{tab}repeat prescribing protocol and practice prescribing policy based on the best practice and best evidence.
After a full year of hard work the practice's prescribing system was acknowledged by the patients, professional colleagues, community pharmacist and prescribing advisers as being of the highest standard.
Dr. Herron said he was delighted to have won the award jointly with another recipient.
"The award means a lot to our practice and reflects the hard work and dedication of the staff. I would like to express my gratitude to Trinity for this award and for their ongoing support," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Geraldine McGovern, of Lakeside Medical Practice was also a winner, taking home the Aventis Diabetes - The Epidemic of the 21st Century Project of the Year Award.
Dr. McGovern won the award under stiff competition but the judging panel was very impressed with her initiative and hard work as she spearheaded a diabetes clinic which sought to improve patients' understanding of their condition through the supply of educational materials such as CD Roms. and material from Diabetes UK relating to the management of the condition.
"Receiving this award really means so much to me and to the rest of the practice. The prizemoney is invaluable and we will be putting it towards taking the service forward into more interesting areas which can only result in greater benefits for the patient." she said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1119
Published Date: 03-Oct-02
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