The finalists for the General Practice Awards were announced at the end of August, celebrating innovation, hard work and leadership within primary care.
Now in their tenth year, the awards will be held in Park Plaza Westminster on 30 November, where all the winners will be announced.
Judges for the award of GP Trainee of the year were looking for individuals who could demonstrate how their work had made a real difference to the provision of care within their practice. It was open to all UK medical graduates who are in postgraduate training to become a GP. The following four stand-out trainees have been shortlisted for the award.
Dr Oscar Duke, West London
As well as making a ‘fantastic impact’ during his ST3 training year, Dr Oscar Duke has also developed a career as a media doctor, including presenting TV programmes.
The first, Born Too White, was broadcast on BBC2 in April 2017, and explored albinism. Other shows have included ITV Tonight news and a BBC programme celebrating the anniversary of the NHS. He has co-hosted several episodes of The Surgery on BBC Radio 1, offering advice to listeners.
Within his practice, Dr Duke has ‘clear enthusiasm and joy’ for general practice, where he has made innovations such as the redesign of the repeat prescription ordering process which minimised potential for errors.
Dr Duke has also been commissioned to write a humorous self-help book for first-time fathers from the perspective of a GP.
Dr Franziska Levin, Hertfordshire
Although she perceives herself as ‘just a GP’, Dr Franziska Levin is a ‘extraordinary’ GP registrar, according to colleagues. She brings an ‘unfailing politeness’ and ‘ready smile’ to her work.
She uses this personal approach in her role as practice lead for learning disability assessments, which she volunteered to take on after learning the process. Since becoming lead, she has achieved 100% uptake on her invitations, after adjusting the practice template and offering learning disability reviews on a Saturday for those who cannot make weekdays.
Beyond the day-to-day practice work, she organised a summer picnic outing for the whole practice and their families, which improved morale within the workplace.
Dr Jonathan Mills, Lincoln
This ‘exceptional’ GP trainee ‘will go the extra mile’ for patients, say his colleagues. ‘Very popular’ with both patients and staff, Dr Mills has been proactive in bringing together GPs, GP trainees and hospital doctors to collaborate on articles for GP training journal InnovAiT.
He has also designed a change to the local GP teaching programme, giving trainees greater control and an opportunity to develop teaching and presentation skills. This has significantly increased attendance and participation.
As an RCGP AiT rep and LMC trainee rep for his region, he has championed the support of training programmes to remain locally delivered in the face of budget cuts, and participated in education and training committees.
Dr Dane Lucas, Stockport
‘This guy is outstanding’, according to Dr Dane Lucas’s GP trainer. He passed CSA on the first possible date, and is confident in his clinical management.
Alongside being an excellent communicator and team player, Dr Lucas is skilled in IT and has reviewed and updated systems within the practice. This includes the nurses’ appointment system, CDM protocols and redesigning the future appointments form to ensure that correct follow-ups are organised.
He has also been employed by the local CCG to do business intelligence work looking at patients at high risk of emergency hospital admission.
If you would like to join our finalists at the General Practice Awards ceremony on 30th November please contact jessicacornish@cogora.com to purchase tickets.
