A practice manager from Kent who organised the establishment of five GP-led health centres across her local area was named Practice Manager of the Year yesterday (20 October 2010) at the third Management in Practice Awards Ceremony at the Birmingham NEC.
The annual Management in Practice Awards recognise excellence and innovation among practice managers and their teams throughout the UK. The awards were set up in 2008 to celebrate practices’ success and share best practice with the MiP readership.
Receiving the Practice Manager of the Year Award at yesterday’s ceremony, held during the MiP Birmingham Event, Sabina Grzeda, Practice Manager at Medway NHS Centre (pictured with award judge Jane Gamble) said: “I’m very, very privileged to be here today, and I’d like to thank my team for nominating me.”
Ms Grzeda, who was accountable for employing all clinical staff at her own practice, paid tribute to her hard-working team. “It’s a sign of how hard they work that we’ve achieved 99% of the QOF last year, making us one of the best performing practices in Kent,” she said.
Lindley House Health Centre in Oldham was named Practice Team of the Year – an award sponsored by remote access providers Away from my Desk. The practice, which opened just one year ago, has implemented a young person’s service, running advice clinics on topics including body confidence issues, drugs and alcohol, sexual health and emotional wellbeing.
Lindley House Practice Manager Maggie Choras said: “Focusing on this hard-to-reach group has been challenging, but most of all it’s been really good fun, and that’s what’s kept us going!”
The Highfields Community Health Centre in Leicester won the Patient Care Award. Situated in one of the poorest 5% of neighbourhoods in the UK, the health centre’s “Health means Wealth” project aims to empower the community to take more control of their health and improve their quality of life through interactive workshops and promoting positive health. The project has achieved reduced hospital admissions, high QOF results and excellent patient feedback in the area.
Business Development Manager Mr Saiful Choudhury said: “All the GPs worked feverishly towards the project, working in their spare time around the clock. Engaging with the community has helped us bring everything together from a practice point of view, working closely with GPs from surrounding areas.
“Looking to the future, we’ve taken another practice in a different area with a lot of deprivation. With the support of the PCTs we’re hoping to replicate the template there.”
Meanwhile Marina Healthcare Centre in Portishead won the Design and Facilities Award, sponsored by property consultants Clark Weightman. The practice, the largest facility built in its area for 20 years, was commended by the awards judges for its outstanding level of design.
The new 1900m-squared
building has enabled a range of community services to be centralised, providing benefits to patients in respect of improved access, choice and experience.
Dr Steven Kitchin, a GP registrar, won the IT Award for creating a central database of patient forms for primary healthcare professionals to access at the click of a button. The innovation was judged to have empowered patients, enhanced clinical consultations and reduced the managerial administrative burden.
Receiving the award, Dr Kitchin said: “I wasn’t expecting this at all.” He said he was pleased to find that his practical idea had worked well in application “and getting recognition through this award is quite exciting.”
Last but not least, Liversedge Health Centre in Yorkshire won the Commissioning Award for its long-term conditions service model. This comprises 24/7 access to a GP for the highest risk patients, enhanced services for patients conducted by a multidisciplinary primary care team, and post-discharge follow-up for all patients, reducing secondary care admissions.
Practice Manager Julie Clarke said: “I’m very pleased to win this award. We have very forward-thinking doctors. The project has been cost-effective and ensured that our patients have very special care.”
