DOCTORS in Healesville and Yarra Glen have been acknowledged for their outstanding work with the Healesville and Yarra Glen Communities.
Valley Primary Health Centre (VPHC) in Yarra Glen were named Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victorian General Practice of the Year at the RACGP awards night on 25 November.
The RACGP is Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation.
One of the VPHC doctors, Dr Sophie Mancey-Jones was also recognised, along with Healesville general practitioners Dr Peter Carruthers and Dr Peter Rogers, for their contribution to rural medicine at the Victorian Rural Doctors Awards on 23 November. All three are members of Medicare Local Eastern Melbourne.
VPHC was selected for the RACGP award based on the clinic’s dedication to providing high quality primary health services in the Yarra Glen and wider community.
RACGP Chair Dr Morton Rawlin congratulated the GPs, staff and allied health professionals saying that at a time when the Yarra Glen region was in dire need of medical care the practice moved from Healesville and set up a facility focused on increasing services to their patients and to the community.
“Through continuity and comprehensive care, efficiency of service and a strong interest in the community as a whole, Yarra Primary Health Care is able to significantly improve the health outcomes of those living within the Yarra Valley region,” he said.
Dr Rawlin spoke of the focus on chronic disease prevention and education, mental health and chronic disease care planning and access to an allied health team that includes psychologists, a dietitian, podiatrist, hearing aid specialise and mental health nurse.
He commended the strong learning culture which he said resulted in a supportive clinical environment for trainees and established practitioners and enhanced the level of care provided to patients.
Senior doctor at VPHC Dr Alexandra Murray accepted the award, saying it was a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm the VPHC team brought to their roles every day.
“We hope this award will further promote the vital role that general practice plays within a regional community,” she said.
Doctors Caruthers and Rogers have serviced the Healesville community for 27 and 20 years respectively and were recognised at the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria’s Victorian Rural Doctors Awards for their contribution to rural medicine.
Dr Carruthers has worked as a GP obstetrician and anaesthetist with Healesville Medical Centre and is currently the only GP anaesthetist providing the service to Healesville Hospital.
MLEM Chief Executive Officer Kristin Michaels spoke of Dr Carruthers’ tireless dedication and work ethic as outstanding. She said working in an extremely busy work environment he worked long hours and was constantly on call.
Dr Rogers is also with Healesville Medical Centre working as a GP obstetrician. This year he was the only permanent GP providing obstetric services at Healesville Hospital.
Ms Michaels said due to a shortage of doctors in the area Dr Rogers had worked diligently under extreme pressure juggling on-call requirements, day-to-day practice and hospital duties.
Dr Sophie Mancey-Jones was recognised for her work as a new rural doctor.
Dr Mancey-Jones joined Healesville Medical and Health Services in 2008 and moved with the practice to Yarra Glen in 2010 when it became Valley Primary Health Centre.
Her work with the students at Worawa Aboriginal College girls’ boarding school in Healesville was particularly commended, with Ms Michaels saying Dr Mancey-Jones put in many extra hours providing and collaborating on health care at the college.
The awards come after a successful year in 2011 when Dr Alexandra Murray from Valley Primary Health Care and Dr Ken Tate from Yarra Valley Community Medical Service were recognised in the Victorian Rural Doctors Awards for their contribution to the Healesville community for over a decade.
Ms Michaels said the rural communities of the Yarra Valley were incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated doctors.
“It is wonderful to see their outstanding commitment to the community being recognised in a formal way,” she said.
