Narrogin’s Dr Peter Maguire named GP of the year at WA Rural Health Excellence Awards

Narrogin doctor Peter Maguire has been named co-winner of WA’s country GP of the year at the 2022 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards.

A senior medical officer at Narrogin Hospital, Dr Maguire was the joint recipient of the prestigious award with Dr Seema Basil from the Mawarnkarra Health Service in Roebourne.

The annual awards ceremony recognises the work of rural health professionals in fields such as general practice, nursing, clinical leadership, rural research, education and community health.

Dr Maguire and Dr Basil shared the night’s top honour at Crown Perth on Saturday, October 22.

“I was both honoured and a bit blown away, it was an amazing feeling,” Dr Maguire said.

“It’s nice to be recognised, and I suppose everyone says this, but I don’t think I’m particularly special and there are a lot of doctors who would be equally deserving of recognition.

“I was delighted to be sharing it with the other recipient of the award, Dr Seema Basil.”

Dr Maguire moved to Narrogin in 2009 to work at Earl Street Surgery before his appointment in 2010 as lead medical coordinator for the Rural Clinical School WA in Narrogin.

He has also worked for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners training program, serving as the chair of the WA faculty.

In 2020 he was the first honorary life member of WA GP Education and Training for his service to the organisation and the primary health care sector.

With more than 40 years of experience in the general practice field, Dr Maguire works at Narrogin Hospital as a senior medical officer where he supervises regional medical officers and medical students.

Rural Health West chief executive Tim Shackleton congratulated the winners for their contributions.

“The past few years have demonstrated the absolutely critical role that health professionals play in preserving our way of life,” he said.

“It is wonderful to this year celebrate the achievements of a number of health professionals who have worked in the bush for many years and who have also played a role in promoting rural health as a career of choice to the next generation of clinicians.”

WA Country Health Service chief executive Jeff Moffet said the winners proved how rewarding a country career could be.

Dr Maguire said working in Narrogin for more than a decade had been particularly rewarding.

“It’s been a wonderful experience having been here many years and having gotten to know a lot of the community,” he said.

“It’s a great pleasure to have patients that know me, and for them to have someone familiar when they come to the hospital I think is quite a positive thing.

“I was very touched by some of the very nice messages that people have put on Facebook and online.”