Acknowledging and celebrating the breadth of mahi across the primary health sector

Congratulations to the winners, runners up and highly commended entries in the 2021 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora! The Awards celebrated the stars of primary healthcare at a black-tie ceremony on 15 May at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland. The evening showcased GPs, nurses, practice managers, pharmacists, midwives, suppliers, researchers, and others whose innovations and collaborations are transforming primary healthcare. Twenty-two people, projects and teams were named the category winners of New Zealand’s only national primary healthcare awards. 

Celebrating Pinnacle network representation

We’re proud to note the Pinnacle network was well represented in the awards. Thank you all for the mahi you put into being involved in, collaborating with, and caring for your communities beyond the four walls of the consult room.

Dwayne Stewart - Health Te Aroha, Practice/Business Manager of the Year

Dwayne Stewart is the embodiment of the next generation of practice managers, according to his Pinnacle Incorporated colleagues. Mr Stewart transformed his role as Health Te Aroha’s business manager in only two years and used his business management skills to transform efficiency in the practice, which benefited staff, patients and the business. Using data to inform decision making, he was able to identify days and times when staffing changes needed to be made so acute-demand patients could be seen on the same day. 

Glen Davies – Taupō Medical Centre, General Practitioner of the Year

Glen Davies, a GP at Taupō Medical Centre, is encouraging his patients to follow a low-carb diet to reverse their type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. After significant research, he established the Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Taupō (RT2DT) group, which promotes a lifestyle that includes nutrient-rich whole unprocessed foods and natural fats, and avoids processed carbohydrates, industrial seed oils and sugar. Not only has it helped 103 of his patients at Taupō Medical Centre to reverse their type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, the group is inspiring a whole community to take better care of their health.  

Leesa King, Owhata Medical Centre, finalist in the Outstanding Contribution to Health award

A well-deserved finalist for her mahi in the Piripoho nursing service, Rotorua.

Piripoho nurse Leesa King thinks outside the box and has delivered an innovative approach to provide much-needed healthcare to the Bay of Plenty’s vulnerable Eastside community. Ms King has been instrumental in the development and execution of the Piripoho Nurse Service, which delivers wraparound services to whānau living in Rotorua’s eastern suburbs. The team’s services are wide-ranging and include visiting childhood education centres and schools to identify health issues and provide education on diet and hygiene, visiting homes in the community, and helping to address issues such as housing, family harm and food shortages.   

Raglan Medical Centre, finalist in the Good Space award

Based in Raglan township, Raglan Medical cares for a population of 5754 patients. When narrow corridors, lack of privacy for patients and staff, and an expiring lease became a problem, the practice owners embarked on a 10-year journey to create a purpose-built, future-proofed building. The resulting 478sqm clinic has deep foundations for a second floor, space for a staircase and lift well and wiring already in place for future expansion. But space and privacy for patients were the top priorities, and this new building delivers both.  

Michelle Meenagh – Raglan Medical Centre, finalists for Practice/Business Manager of the Year

Realising how vital the business manager’s role was to the smooth running of his Raglan Medical practice was what prompted practice owner Michael Loten’s nomination of Michelle Meenagh. She considers the welfare of all the staff to be one of the most important parts of her job, and if people are happy, they are more productive, Dr Loten says. Among Mrs Meenagh’s biggest achievements was the development of the practice’s new multipurpose building. She was instrumental in seeing the build through all the different stages, all while running the business side of the practice. 

Article source: Primary Health Care Awards