Rural GP Team Awards to start soon

New Zealand's best Rural General Practice Team of the Year is judged by the community. Photo / File

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 third year, will be announced at the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network's national rural health conference in Wellington, March 30 to April.

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

"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.

"We are delighted once again to be offering this award in partnership with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network (NZRGPN), the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) and New Zealand Doctor."

Entries are open until close of business on Friday, March 10, 2017 and will be judged by a panel comprising representatives from each of the award partners.

The winning practice and winning nominator will be announced as part of the formal awards ceremony in Wellington on March 31, and both parties stand to win great 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. If you would like to nominate your GP team you can find all the details on how to enter here.