Patients award winner ‘an inspiration’ to general practice

The votes are in. Patients across Australia have recognised the effort of GPs and the relationships they have with them, honouring the value of that engagement through selecting the ‘most outstanding’ GP.
 
The Australian Patients Association’s (APA) annual awards were held on 18 August in Melbourne, with Most Outstanding GP awarded to Tasmania-based Dr Sana Mahmud.
 
A Fellow of the RACGP, Dr Mahmud is originally from Pakistan and has been practising in Tasmania for just over a decade.
 
Despite working in multiple locations in different countries, she now calls Launceston home and is passionate about contributing to the health of her community.
 
Dr Mahmud told newsGP she is honoured to win the award.
 
‘I never thought that working in a small area like Launceston that I would get to this point,’ she said.
 
‘So I am humbled by that recognition, and to be honest it is very surprising.’
 
As part of an ongoing engagement strategy, the RACGP supports the annual APA awards.
 
Chair of the RACGP Board Christine Nixon attended the ceremony and presented the award for Most Outstanding GP.
 
‘The RACGP is a long and proud supporter of the APA awards,’ Ms Nixon said on the evening.
 
‘We support APA in their efforts to advocate for high-quality, patient-centred care – which GPs are at the core of.
 
‘The hard work of GPs and the value they provide to individual patients and whole communities is rarely acknowledged – this is a wonderful opportunity to recognise it.’
 
Dr Mahmud has a special interest in women’s health, obstetrics and gynaecology, but also enjoys the overall variety that general practice offers.
 
‘The thing I enjoy most is being able to provide a lot of care to girls of all age groups, starting from early hormonal changes, to pregnancy care and postpartum care,’ she said.
 
‘I really like the fact that because of the long waiting list in public hospitals in Tasmania, if patients can get more sort of a specialised care in general practice, that is very helpful for the local community.’
 
Because of her expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr Mahmud can provide that care in general practice, for which many patients in her community would otherwise go on wait lists to see other specialists.
 
‘I do attract a lot of women and they’re very happy with the care provided because they don’t have to go on the waiting list for months and months,’ she said.
 
Recognised as having a commitment to providing comprehensive and holistic healthcare and treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, Dr Mahmud was selected for the award based largely on the ‘significant amount’ of positive feedback and comments from patients.
 
‘[Her patients] all said that she was kind, compassionate, supportive, considerate, and knowledgeable,’ Ms Nixon said.
 
‘In short, Sana puts patients’ interests first, and goes above and beyond. She is also highly regarded among the refugee community where she is doing some tremendous work.
 
‘Launceston is certainly lucky to have her … [she is] an inspiration to the [general practice] profession.’
 
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Australian Patient Awards Most Outstanding GP