OMAGH GP LANDS ANOTHER MAJOR AWARD
Truly exceptional' Omagh GP's dedication lands another major award
by Olga Bradshaw
OMAGH GP, Dr. Irfran Hassan, has won the title of 'NHS Dedicated Doctor 2002', which is sponsored by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Dr. Hassan, who was quickly on the scene when the Omagh bombing killed seven of his patients, was awarded the title not only for his work with the injured, but with the families of those killed, and for his unstinting work with them since.
"His efforts to assist the victims did not stop in the immediate aftermath and he has since given his time unstintingly to support the injured and the relatives of those who died," Dr. Hassan's citation revealed.
"This is typical of the commitment shown by this GP who works tirelessly and enthusiastically for the good of patients and the local health service".
Dr. Hassan was nominated for the Dedicated Doctor Award by his colleagues, who said his empathy for patients went beyond the surgery door and had led him to champion the cause of the chronically ill and the handicapped.
A cardiac rehabilitiation project established by Dr. Hassan has brought about significant improvements in care and patient satisfaction, while through his mental health facilitator programme he has secured long term funding for an innovative community based model for mental health services.
Dr. Hassan has fought to retain local acute and maternity services, and as a medical teacher for more than 20 years he has trained undergraduates and GP registrars, as well as pioneering audit in general practice.
The judge for the award, Dr. Peter Colvin, chairman of the RCGP's Northern Irish committee, described Dr. Hassan as a 'truly exceptional general
practitioner'.
Gala reception
The presentation was made at a gala reception in London which also attracted prestigious company, including the president of the Royal College, the BMA heriarchy, representatives of the Department of Health, and, the five finalists from the UK, with Dr. Hassan being the only one from Northern Ireland among them.
Dr. Hassan said he was both very excited and very humbled to receive the award, which he now adds to the BT NI Doctor of the Year title, which he won last month.
"I am very excited and humbled that my work has been recognised by my peers and by my colleagues in the Royal College, to which I am affiliated".
Dr. Hassan revealed that more than four years after the atrocity of August 15, 1998, he was still working with the injured and bereaved in his capacity as a GP, and said he and his team had set up a service which he had established and which was run by Berni Marlow, a CPN who was trained in counselling, who was providing ongoing support as part of the service.
"Quite a few of the people affected are still on our active list," he said.
Asked how he operated such a highly emotive service without being consumed by the trauma that such atrocities bring with them, the humble doctor said it was very difficult at times not to feel affected by the tragedy, and there were times when it was hard to detach himself from what happened.
"Over the years I have learned to separate my personal life from my professional life, and I try to cope with it the best I possibly can," he said.
"I lost seven patients aged between 18 and 60, and I had been their doctor for maybe 20 years. All of them were friends and when controversy arises in the media or what happened comes back to these people, there is a corresponding increase in demand for the services we have in place for these people. The Sperrin Lakeland Trust has put in systems which are very useful in terms of the coping process for the doctors and staff," he said.
Supported
Describing what the award meant to him on a personal level, Dr. Hassan said that he was not only very happy for himself, but also for his team of colleagues and staff in the practice who had supported him over the years.
He went on to single out the primary care team within the Western Health and Social Services Board, who had provided the necessary funding, and he particularly praised Mr Eugene Gallagher, who had been helpful in providing funding for two projects that the 'dedicated doctor' had
spearheaded to help the mentally ill and those in need of cardiac rehabilitation.
The doctor also paid tribute to Sr. Donna Keenan, sister in charge of Tyrone County Hospital Ward 12, the coronary unit, and thanked both her and her staff for their contribution to the work already achieved through the coronary care project.
"These projects are making a difference, and it is a pleasure to see these new services have produced changes and helped patients in the way they are supported, and long may it continue," he said.
New projects
Not content with two projects successfully off the ground and supporting those in need, Dr. Hassan this week revealed that two new projects were in the pipeline, one dealing with heart failure and primary care, which he was working on in conjunction with the County Hospital's Dr. Clive Russell.
The other pipeline project is in the treatment of those addicted to alcohol, and the project focuses on treating addicts in the community rather than relying on admissions.
"Instead of admission to hospital they will be looked after by a team of CPN nurses in the community. This, again, will save patients a lot of unnecessary admissions as well as saving money for the Health Service," he said.
by Olga Bradshaw
OMAGH GP, Dr. Irfran Hassan, has won the title of 'NHS Dedicated Doctor 2002', which is sponsored by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Dr. Hassan, who was quickly on the scene when the Omagh bombing killed seven of his patients, was awarded the title not only for his work with the injured, but with the families of those killed, and for his unstinting work with them since.
"His efforts to assist the victims did not stop in the immediate aftermath and he has since given his time unstintingly to support the injured and the relatives of those who died," Dr. Hassan's citation revealed.
"This is typical of the commitment shown by this GP who works tirelessly and enthusiastically for the good of patients and the local health service".
Dr. Hassan was nominated for the Dedicated Doctor Award by his colleagues, who said his empathy for patients went beyond the surgery door and had led him to champion the cause of the chronically ill and the handicapped.
A cardiac rehabilitiation project established by Dr. Hassan has brought about significant improvements in care and patient satisfaction, while through his mental health facilitator programme he has secured long term funding for an innovative community based model for mental health services.
Dr. Hassan has fought to retain local acute and maternity services, and as a medical teacher for more than 20 years he has trained undergraduates and GP registrars, as well as pioneering audit in general practice.
The judge for the award, Dr. Peter Colvin, chairman of the RCGP's Northern Irish committee, described Dr. Hassan as a 'truly exceptional general
practitioner'.
Gala reception
The presentation was made at a gala reception in London which also attracted prestigious company, including the president of the Royal College, the BMA heriarchy, representatives of the Department of Health, and, the five finalists from the UK, with Dr. Hassan being the only one from Northern Ireland among them.
Dr. Hassan said he was both very excited and very humbled to receive the award, which he now adds to the BT NI Doctor of the Year title, which he won last month.
"I am very excited and humbled that my work has been recognised by my peers and by my colleagues in the Royal College, to which I am affiliated".
Dr. Hassan revealed that more than four years after the atrocity of August 15, 1998, he was still working with the injured and bereaved in his capacity as a GP, and said he and his team had set up a service which he had established and which was run by Berni Marlow, a CPN who was trained in counselling, who was providing ongoing support as part of the service.
"Quite a few of the people affected are still on our active list," he said.
Asked how he operated such a highly emotive service without being consumed by the trauma that such atrocities bring with them, the humble doctor said it was very difficult at times not to feel affected by the tragedy, and there were times when it was hard to detach himself from what happened.
"Over the years I have learned to separate my personal life from my professional life, and I try to cope with it the best I possibly can," he said.
"I lost seven patients aged between 18 and 60, and I had been their doctor for maybe 20 years. All of them were friends and when controversy arises in the media or what happened comes back to these people, there is a corresponding increase in demand for the services we have in place for these people. The Sperrin Lakeland Trust has put in systems which are very useful in terms of the coping process for the doctors and staff," he said.
Supported
Describing what the award meant to him on a personal level, Dr. Hassan said that he was not only very happy for himself, but also for his team of colleagues and staff in the practice who had supported him over the years.
He went on to single out the primary care team within the Western Health and Social Services Board, who had provided the necessary funding, and he particularly praised Mr Eugene Gallagher, who had been helpful in providing funding for two projects that the 'dedicated doctor' had
spearheaded to help the mentally ill and those in need of cardiac rehabilitation.
The doctor also paid tribute to Sr. Donna Keenan, sister in charge of Tyrone County Hospital Ward 12, the coronary unit, and thanked both her and her staff for their contribution to the work already achieved through the coronary care project.
"These projects are making a difference, and it is a pleasure to see these new services have produced changes and helped patients in the way they are supported, and long may it continue," he said.
New projects
Not content with two projects successfully off the ground and supporting those in need, Dr. Hassan this week revealed that two new projects were in the pipeline, one dealing with heart failure and primary care, which he was working on in conjunction with the County Hospital's Dr. Clive Russell.
The other pipeline project is in the treatment of those addicted to alcohol, and the project focuses on treating addicts in the community rather than relying on admissions.
"Instead of admission to hospital they will be looked after by a team of CPN nurses in the community. This, again, will save patients a lot of unnecessary admissions as well as saving money for the Health Service," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1132
Published Date: 21-Nov-02
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