Team at Cappoquin GP pick up prestigious award
Pictured celebrating are (left to right); Dr Imran Khan, Dr Derek Casey and Dr Daire Nevin Maguire.
Cappoquin Health Centre in West Waterford has won the prestigious national award "Establishing GP Practice of the Year 2024" at last week's National GP Buddy Awards.
The awards recognise the tireless efforts of those working on the ground to improve the lives of patients all over the country.
General practitioners and healthcare professionals from the recently qualified to the long-established were recognised for their dedication, commitment and innovative contributions to community-based healthcare in Ireland.
Speaking on the acknowledgement, Dr Derek Casey, GP Principal at Cappoquin Health Centre, said: "This is a big deal; our rapidly growing surgery in West Waterford was voted for by fellow GPs around the country and beat off stiff competition from lots of other great practices."
The national award is given to a practice where the doctors in question are in the early stages of their career and have shown leadership qualities or innovation in relation to General Practice.
The judging panel noted that the Cappoquin team were nominated for advocating hugely for their patients.
The team at Cappoquin Health Centre now comprises three doctors. The health centre has taken on two additional medical card patient lists in the last few years from retiring GPs in the West Waterford area, ensuring local patients were not left without a GP.
"A major problem in many parts of rural Ireland is a lack of younger GPs coming through the system to replace those who are at the end of their careers, and unfortunately some patients are left without any GP," said Dr Casey.
"Thankfully that is not the case in Cappoquin. As our surgery continues to grow, a lot of our patients are now coming from places like Dungarvan, Lismore, Aglish, Tallow, Mellary and Clonmel," he added.
