Hackney GP surgery wins ‘Reception Team of the Year’ at healthcare’s biggest national awards

The Richmond Road team at the awards ceremony. Photograph: courtesy RRMC

A Dalston GP surgery has done the borough proud once more after its reception team won big at healthcare’s most prestigious awards ceremony.

Richmond Road Medical Centre, whose 20,000 patients make it the largest practice in Hackney, was nominated at the national General Practice Awards for the seventh year in a row.

The team was shortlisted in two categories, and made the final for ‘GP Team of the Year’ – an award it won outright in 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

But the biggest moment for Richmond Road at the glitzy bash on 8 December came when it scooped top prize for ‘Reception Team of the Year’.

Judges praised the surgery’s receptionists for playing a “pivotal role in transforming the practice into a centre of health, wellbeing, opportunity and belonging for patients”.

They added: “The reception team have played an imperative role in the delivery of practice initiatives including ‘Peppa Pig’s Flu Clinics’ and ‘Teddy Bear GP Clinics’, increasing immunisation rates and teaching local schoolchildren about healthy behaviours such as handwashing.

“In response to the cost-of-living crisis, the reception team delivered the practice’s ‘Easter Adventure’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’, improving emotional wellbeing for children and families.

“The receptionists were the delivery backbone of the practice’s ‘Health & Wellbeing Day’, attended by over 500 patients, and played a significant role with outreach and health promotion at the Hackney Half Marathon.”

Richmond Road’s Dr Gopal Mehta said: “I am incredibly proud of the reception team! Winning this award is a true testament to their unwavering dedication and commitment to our patients.

“I am truly honoured to work alongside these incredible individuals who have consistently gone over and above to transform our practice into a centre of health and wellbeing, and in creating a real sense of belonging for our local community. Thank you!”

The surgery was given a hearty recommendation from Healthwatch Hackney, which monitors the experiences of patients across the borough.

The watchdog’s acting executive director Sally Beaven said: “We receive feedback about all 38 GP practices in Hackney, which we track in the form of trends analysis reports.

“Richmond Road stands out as consistently receiving a far greater number of comments than any other practice, and these comments are overwhelmingly positive.

“In the last quarter alone, we tracked over 900 comments, of which 90 per cent were positive. I cannot stress enough how unusual this is.”

Beaven added: “Well done Richmond Road, keep doing what you are doing!”

The awards cap another trophy-laden year for Richmond Road, which won a parliamentary award in the summer after being put forward by local MP Meg Hillier.

For more information about the surgery, visit richmondroadmedicalcentre.nhs.uk.