Local GP Dr Ashlea Broomfield has been awarded The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) 2020 Eric Fisher Award.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

The annual award is given to the NSW or ACT early career GP who has a strong focus on the emotional wellbeing of their patients and colleagues.

It was established in honour of the late Dr Eric Fisher who was a strong role model for his colleagues and held several key leadership positions throughout his 67-year medical career.

He was passionate about the work of young GPs and believed that emotional well-being has a significant impact on a patient’s health and recovery.

The recipient, Dr Broomfield, has a focus on her patients’ emotional wellbeing as well as her colleagues.

This was fostered during her GP training after medical school which had a strong focus on keeping yourself as a GP healthy to keep your patients well too.

Dr Broomfield, who was the recipient of the RACGP GP Registrar of the year in 2015, completed her medical studies at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and moved to Coffs Harbour to attend the UNSW Rural Clinical School (RCS).

She achieved her fellowship with the RACGP in 2016.

“Like Eric Fisher, I also believe that health is not just the absence of disease and I see that understanding the context of our patient’s life circumstances allows me to care for their needs and help them reach the goal of substantially improving their long-term health and vitality,” she said.

Dr Broomfield told News of The Area doctors are people that need looking after too.

“There is a big burn out rate in health professions especially during training and practice doctors have a high rate of suicide along with a high rate of mental health concerns even though when we look at them, they are resilient.”

These concerns inspired Dr Broomfield to lead a NSW Faculty of GPs New Fellows Committee to develop a wellbeing weekend for doctors.

“We have delivered that twice now and have looked at the systems- based factors to ensure the wellbeing of doctors,” Dr. Broomfield said.

Due to COVID safe practices the award presentation this year will be virtual.

.

By Sandra MOON