DEDICATED GP HONOURED FOR COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP
Dedicated' GP honoured for courage and leadership
BY JOHN McCUSKER
'They were looking for a GP who wouldn't be cowed down by difficulties in the system'
AN Omagh GP, honoured last week with a 'Dedicated Doctor' award, has been commended by judges as being 'a truly exceptional general practitioner.'
Dr Irfran Hassan, whose practice is based at Omagh Health Centre, saw off competition from throughout Britain to lift the title at a function in the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The honour comes hot on the heels of a 'GP of the Year' title awarded last September for dedication to his profession. His latest citation praises Dr Hassan's "skill, courage, leadership and determination in general practice and achieving excellent services for patients."
Organised by 'Doctor' magazine and the Royal College of General Practitioners, the 'Dedicated Doctor' award recognises the day-to-day work of GPs.
FUNDING APPEAL
Accepting his accolade, Dr Hassan praised the work of those involved in the running of his practise. He also pleaded for appropriate funding to be made available to enable the work of GPs to continue.
He said: "I feel humbled and honoured that a GP from the sticks of Tyrone has been recognised at national level by the Royal College of General Practitioners. I am also pleased that, in their opinion, I have shown skill, courage, leadership and determination in general practice in achieving services for the people of Omagh"
Dr Hassan was nominated for the award by his colleagues who praised his empathy towards patients which stretched beyond the surgery door and had led to him championing the cause of the chronically ill and the. handicapped. Commendation also came for his work in treating the victims of the Omagh bomb.
Award organisers were looking for grassroots GPs who, despite funding difficulties, have made changes in which patient care was delivered in a primary care setting.
Dr Hassan continued: "They were looking for a GP who wouldn't be cowed down by difficulties in the system and would bring about changes for delivery of good medical care to their patients."
EMBED NEW SERVICES
Turning to the question of long-term benefits for patients, Dr Hassan said proper funding within the Health Service was now needed to embed new services such as mental health and cardiac rehabilitation which he personally had been instrumental in initiating.
Unfortunately, he added, the way the Health Service was run, many projects were started on a shoestring budget with no recurring funding. "I hope and pray that doesn't happen to my projects," Dr Hassan added.
Paying tribute to other health staff, Dr Hassan thanked the role played by Eugene Gallagher, Director of Primary Carte in the WHSSB and Frances Taylor, Clinical Services Manager at the Tyrone and Fermanagh who had shown "vision and courage" in guiding and funding various projects.
He also praised the efforts of Bernie Marlow, Community Psychiatric Liaison Nurse and Patricia McGartland, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse; Dr Clive Russell, Consultant Physician at the County and Dr Tom Foster, Consultant Psychiatrist at the T&F. Dr Hassan also made mention of the work of the ward sister and staff of Ward 12 and also the physiotherapists involved in the Project.
"Individuals come and go but it is the team, we have been able to establish which has taken the work forward," he added.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
'They were looking for a GP who wouldn't be cowed down by difficulties in the system'
AN Omagh GP, honoured last week with a 'Dedicated Doctor' award, has been commended by judges as being 'a truly exceptional general practitioner.'
Dr Irfran Hassan, whose practice is based at Omagh Health Centre, saw off competition from throughout Britain to lift the title at a function in the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
The honour comes hot on the heels of a 'GP of the Year' title awarded last September for dedication to his profession. His latest citation praises Dr Hassan's "skill, courage, leadership and determination in general practice and achieving excellent services for patients."
Organised by 'Doctor' magazine and the Royal College of General Practitioners, the 'Dedicated Doctor' award recognises the day-to-day work of GPs.
FUNDING APPEAL
Accepting his accolade, Dr Hassan praised the work of those involved in the running of his practise. He also pleaded for appropriate funding to be made available to enable the work of GPs to continue.
He said: "I feel humbled and honoured that a GP from the sticks of Tyrone has been recognised at national level by the Royal College of General Practitioners. I am also pleased that, in their opinion, I have shown skill, courage, leadership and determination in general practice in achieving services for the people of Omagh"
Dr Hassan was nominated for the award by his colleagues who praised his empathy towards patients which stretched beyond the surgery door and had led to him championing the cause of the chronically ill and the. handicapped. Commendation also came for his work in treating the victims of the Omagh bomb.
Award organisers were looking for grassroots GPs who, despite funding difficulties, have made changes in which patient care was delivered in a primary care setting.
Dr Hassan continued: "They were looking for a GP who wouldn't be cowed down by difficulties in the system and would bring about changes for delivery of good medical care to their patients."
EMBED NEW SERVICES
Turning to the question of long-term benefits for patients, Dr Hassan said proper funding within the Health Service was now needed to embed new services such as mental health and cardiac rehabilitation which he personally had been instrumental in initiating.
Unfortunately, he added, the way the Health Service was run, many projects were started on a shoestring budget with no recurring funding. "I hope and pray that doesn't happen to my projects," Dr Hassan added.
Paying tribute to other health staff, Dr Hassan thanked the role played by Eugene Gallagher, Director of Primary Carte in the WHSSB and Frances Taylor, Clinical Services Manager at the Tyrone and Fermanagh who had shown "vision and courage" in guiding and funding various projects.
He also praised the efforts of Bernie Marlow, Community Psychiatric Liaison Nurse and Patricia McGartland, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse; Dr Clive Russell, Consultant Physician at the County and Dr Tom Foster, Consultant Psychiatrist at the T&F. Dr Hassan also made mention of the work of the ward sister and staff of Ward 12 and also the physiotherapists involved in the Project.
"Individuals come and go but it is the team, we have been able to establish which has taken the work forward," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1122
Published Date: 21-Nov-02
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