Patients urged to nominate ‘outstanding’ GPs across Northern Ireland for annual awards

Patients across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to recognise the family doctors and practice teams who have made a real difference to their lives as nominations open for the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland’s GP and Practice Team of the Year Awards 2026.

The annual awards, launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland (RCGPNI), aim to shine a spotlight on GPs and surgery teams who have gone “above and beyond” to support patients and families at a time when general practice continues to face growing demand and mounting pressures.

For many patients, local GP surgeries remain the front line of healthcare — often providing long-term support through illness, mental health struggles, chronic conditions, family crises and end-of-life care.

The awards are designed to recognise those efforts directly through the voices of patients themselves.

Patients placed at centre of judging process

Unlike many healthcare awards, the RCGPNI awards are both patient-nominated and patient-judged, with the organisation’s Patient Network responsible for selecting the winners.

Organisers say the process ensures that the experiences of patients remain at the heart of the awards and helps celebrate practices delivering exceptional patient-centred care within communities across Northern Ireland.

GPs throughout Northern Ireland continue to work under significant strain, with increasing workloads and sustained pressure on services continuing to impact practices regionally and nationally.

Despite this, RCGPNI says family doctors continue striving to provide the best possible care for patients in local communities every day.

Call for patients to share positive experiences

Dr Ursula Mason, Chair of RCGP Northern Ireland, is urging members of the public to take a few moments to acknowledge healthcare professionals who have made a lasting impact.

She said:

“If you feel your local family doctor or practice have provided excellent care to you or your family, please take a few short moments to nominate them for either the GP or Practice Team of the Year Award.

“A nomination from patients can be a real boost to the morale of GPs and practices.”

The awards also highlight the wider role played by surgery staff beyond doctors alone, recognising receptionists, nurses, practice managers and wider teams who help keep local services running under pressure.

Previous winner reflects on recognition

Among last year’s recipients was Dr Louise Beck from Victoria Surgery in Larne, who received the 2025 GP of the Year award.

Reflecting on the recognition, Dr Beck said the award represented the efforts of the wider team around her.

“I was surprised and honoured to receive last year’s GP of the Year award — recognition that would not have been possible without the people I work alongside every day and testament to the collective effort of the entire team at Victoria Surgery,” she said.

The awards come as GP services continue facing intense demand across Northern Ireland, with many practices experiencing workforce shortages, rising patient numbers and increasing complexity in healthcare needs.

Against that backdrop, the awards seek to highlight positive patient experiences and recognise the continued role GP practices play at the centre of community healthcare.

How to nominate

Nominations for the RCGPNI GP and Practice Team of the Year Awards 2026 close on Friday 10 July at 5pm.

Patients can submit nominations online via the official RCGP Northern Ireland webpage:

Nominate your GP

The Royal College of General Practitioners represents more than 52,000 family doctors and works to promote high standards in general medical practice, education, training, research and clinical care.

The organisation says the awards provide an opportunity for patients to publicly acknowledge healthcare professionals whose care, compassion and commitment have had a meaningful impact on individuals and families across Northern Ireland.