The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has congratulated the winners of the annual RACGP Tasmanian faculty awards.
This year’s winners:
· GP of the Year is Dr John Ballantyne of Launceston’s Prospect Medical Centre
· General Practice of the Year is the Saunders Street Clinic in Wynyard
· GP Supervisor of the Year is Dr Jim Berryman of the Saunders Street Clinic
RACGP Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda today congratulated the award winners.
“This year’s award winners highlight why general practice is so important for communities across Tasmania,” Associate Professor Shenouda said.
“GP of the Year Dr John Ballantyne is a true leader who always goes that extra mile for his patients, often extending his workday to provide care. He has been a General Practitioner in Launceston for over 30 years and places great stock in continuity of care and carefully listening to his patients.
“The last 12 months have been an extraordinarily trying time and Dr Ballantyne has done everything required to ensure a continued high standard of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That includes a seamless uptake of telehealth consultations and e-scripts, bi-weekly clinical meetings and working with a team to ensure a high level of support has been provided to staff members. This responsiveness and adaptability during a stressful time has not gone unnoticed by colleagues and patients.
“He is a co-founder of the Tassie Face Mask Project, which has coordinated volunteers who make and distribute cloth masks to vulnerable people who might not otherwise have access.
“Dr Ballantyne involves himself in his local community and he encourages practice team members to take part in events such as the Cancer Council’s five kilometre run. He is a big believer in the use of good food, exercise and contact with nature to both treat and prevent illness.”
The Acting RACGP President also congratulated the winners from North West Tasmania.
“Dr Berryman is an indefatigable rural GP who has supported many registrars and medical students over the last 11 years. He built the Saunders Street Clinic from the ground up and today it is a practice that prides itself on providing the highest standard of medicine,” he said.
“Registrars have said that his retention of medical students as registrars speaks for itself – they want to come back and
