The AMA has recognised Dr Daniel Byrne with the Excellence in Healthcare Award for his significant contributions to general practice for more than 30 years.
The Happy Valley-based GP has been at the forefront of various innovations and reforms in South Australia and across the country, since he began practising in 1992. Dr Byrne founded the ‘GP in the Hospital Program’ in 1994, which became the forerunner of the now nationwide GP Hospital Liaison services.
He was also a driving force behind calls for iron infusions in general practice and played a leading role in these being rolled out in communities across Australia from 2015 onwards.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen told the AMA26 National Conference that across his decades of service, Dr Byrne had epitomised the important role and value that GPs deliver for their local community.
“We are often described as the caring profession, and it is impossible to look at Dr Byrne’s achievements over the years and not see they have been driven by a deep care and desire to do the absolute best for patients, and an optimism that he can contribute to positive system change,” said Dr McMullen.
“GPs are a trusted first port of call for people when they are unwell or have concerns, but our care for them doesn’t begin and end with the opening and closing of the surgery door. We know their background, understand their medical history, and are able to join up the dots to coordinate their care — Dr Byrne is an exemplar of that ethos.”
Patient interactions have been at the heart of Dr Byrne’s career and have been the catalyst for some of his most notable achievements.
Dr Byrne said, “I am surprised but greatly honoured to be a recipient of the AMA’s Excellence in Healthcare Award.
“As GPs, we are in a great position to hear our patients’ stories, as well as being able to influence the health system to make changes for their benefit. That’s what happened to me in 1994 when I asked a patient how her husband was doing, only to find out from her that he had died in hospital a month before.
“Nobody had let me know and I was embarrassed, and it had a profound effect on me. I clearly remember a patient saying “don’t they care about me” when I told him I had no information about his stay in hospital. I thought we had to do something better, so I set about establishing ‘GP in the Hospital’.
“Now, in 2026, we have GP Hospital Liaison services standard all around Australia, with 95
per cent of patients having discharge summaries delivered to their GP within two days of discharge. It’s really great to see that the small beginnings back in the 1990s have led to such major improvements.
“So, for all of you out there who find there’s a frustration or some part of the system that’s niggling away at you and you wish things could be better, I’ve got an answer for you. Make some phone calls, send some emails and you’ll be surprised at how much good you can do.”
