FOUR Mandurah-based doctors have been recognised for their commitment to the region at the 2019 WA Country Doctors’ Awards.
The awards celebrate doctors who have spent 20, 30 or 40 years working in rural WA.
Dr Hugh Connolly and Dr Robert Watt have each racked up 40 years of service in rural and regional communities.
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READ NOWDr Watt worked for some time in Geraldton, Fremantle and Canada before moving to the Peel region, where he worked in the local emergency department and performed locums.
Although semi-retired, he continues to work as a GP at Falcon Grove Medical Centre.
Dr Connolly from Peel Connolly Medical Centre has practised in the Peel region since moving to WA from Ireland in 1979.
Dr Wayne Bradshaw, from Mandurah Doctors in Greenfields, was recognised with a 30-year service award, and Dr Stephen Bingham, from Modern Medical Clinics, was recognised for 20 years of rural medicine.
Rural Health West chief executive officer Tim Shackleton said all doctors had shown extraordinary commitment to regional communities.
“Continuity of care is incredibly important; it takes time to build trust and rapport between doctors and patients,” he said.
“Their contribution to the health and well-being of the Peel community – and of course to the many babies they have delivered over many years – cannot be overstated.”