Search for the top rural GP practice in NZ begins

Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand chief executive Michelle Thompson.

The search is on again for New Zealand's best Rural General Practice Team of the Year as judged by the community.

The award, now in its fourth year, will be announced at the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network's national rural health conference in Auckland, April 5-8.

The inaugural award was won by Raglan's West Coast Health Clinic in 2015, followed by Martinborough Medical Centre in 2016 and Ngunguru Medical Centre in 2017.

"The competition is going from strength to strength and it is the perfect opportunity for the rural community to tell us their stories about how rural general practice teams go "above and beyond" the call of duty in providing health services to their rural communities," says Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand Chief Executive Michelle Thompson.

"We want to encourage as many rural people as possible to tell their stories and nominate their favourite rural practice.

The award is offered in partnership with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network (NZRGPN), the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) and New Zealand Doctor.

Entries are open until Friday, March 9 and will be judged by a panel of representatives from each of the award partners.

The winning practice and winning nominator will be announced as part of the formal awards ceremony in Auckland on April 7, and both parties stand to win prizes. The winning practice will receive a prize up to the value of $1500 and the winning nominator will receive a prize up to the value of $500. All entries received electronically will also go into a draw to win a $100 voucher.

Entries can be submitted online or posted. However, to make collation and judging easier the organisers would prefer as many entries as possible are completed online. Patients can complete their postcard and post direct to P O Box 82, Waipukurau, 4242 or hand it to the practice receptionist who can then forward the entries in bulk.

Postcards can be downloaded from www.rhaanz.org.nz or further hardcopies can be ordered from ce@rhaanz.org.nz