Highly respected North Hobart doctor Elizabeth Elliott has been named the Tasmanian finalist in the 2017 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) General Practitioner of the Year Award.
The annual award recognises GPs who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of their community.
Chair of RACGP Tasmania Dr Clare Ballingall said Dr Elliott was a most worthy recipient of the award.
“Dr Elliott is an inspirational GP, who has packed a lot of variety into her practice in a short amount of time,” Dr Ballingall said.
“She sends a clear message to young medical students and GP registrars that they can be whatever they want to be in general practice.
“Her experience overseas and in rural and remote Australia show that a career in general practice can be diverse, adventurous and socially responsive when motivated ‘from within’ rather than being locked into a formalised pathway.”
Dr Elliott has travelled around Australia and the world, where she has developed new skills to enhance her work as a GP. She spent six months training in Greenland and three months on Macquarie Island where she completed her examinations as the first remotely managed online exam candidate not attached to the Australian Defence Force. She also completed an extended skills post at the Australian Antarctic Division.
“Dr Elliott’s work in rural and remote medicine in Tasmania show her passion for equity in health care and cultural diversity and sensitivity.” Dr Ballingall said.
RACGP Tasmania also presented the Tasmanian General Practice of the Year award to the Saunders Street Clinic in Wynyard.
“The Saunders Street Clinic is an exemplary practice for how to deliver the highest quality care in a modern, safe and caring environment,” Dr Ballingall said.
“They go above and beyond to ensure their patients are at ease.”
The Saunders Street Clinic strives to deliver a coffee shop atmosphere, with beautiful gardens, antique chairs, a fish tank, two cats, and warm and welcoming staff. The atmosphere of the clinic allows patients to feel they are part of the health team, rather than a passive receiver of a service.
The national winners of the RACGP awards will be announced at GP17 – the RACGP’s annual conference for general practice – running from 26–28 October 2017.