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Promoting good mental health and mental health awareness is the purpose of the annual World Mental Health Day, and it has now become a 'tradition' (albeit a very young tradition!) for 'Friend' to present an award to whichever GP practice receives the greatest number of nominations from their patients.
Originally, when the idea of a presentation was started in 2003, people were only asked to nominate a specific doctor for an award. However, so many people wanted to nominate other staff in the practices they attended, it was decided to widen the award in 2004 to include any member of staff within a practice who was felt to have been supportive - either in general or during a particularly difficult time.
The event during that year was enormously successful, so once again nomination forms and collection boxes were distributed to all practices in North Somerset for 2005. It was also possible to nominate online at this website or by e-mail. The response from patients for the 2005 Award was wonderful, with more than double the number of nominations that were received in 2004 - an excellent result, showing how much doctors and their staff are appreciated! The comment/s provided as part of a nomination are sent to each of the GP practices, as this provides valuable feedback for them.
Sadly,owing to major building works having to be being carried out at 'Friend' premises, and the necessity of a move to temporary premises for four months (from 18 August to 18 December), 'Friend' was unable to organise the GP Awards in 2006 - but they will hopefully be re-instated in time for World Mental Health Day in 2007!
The result of 2005's Good Mental Health GP Practice Award saw 2004's runner-up, The Village Surgery, Hill Road East, Worle as winner! Congratulations to Drs. Nila Patel and Ralph-Erol Geafer and their practice staff. The runner-up was the Clarence Road East Surgery, and Sue Christian, Practice Manager, collected the award on behalf of everyone at the practice.
Pictured below are Dr Patel receiving the 2005 Winner's Plaque and Certificate from Lynda Hoskins, Senior Development Worker at 'Friend', and Sue Christian receiving the Runners-up Certificate from Des Robertson, Advocacy Worker at 'Friend'.