Well-respected local GP, Dr Richard Abbott, has been honoured for long-standing medical service to Scone at the prestigious 2018 NSW Rural Medical Service Awards.
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The annual Rural Medical Service Award recognises GPs who have provided 35 years or more of medical service to the people of rural, regional and remote New South Wales.
Dr Abbott’s award was presented by the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) during its 2018 Rural GPs Conference dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Coogee Beach in Sydney on Saturday, December 1.
Dr Abbott is a proceduralist doctor who has practised at Scone Medical Practice for 35 years and provided more than 30 years of obstetric and anaesthetic care to patients at Scott Memorial Hospital.
As well as maintaining local clinical care, Dr Abbott provides occasional GP locum relief for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill.
With a passion for rural health, Dr Abbott is also a well-known and highly valued member of the wider community of rural doctors. He was formerly statewide Director of the NSW Rural Generalist Training Program with NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) and a past President of the Rural Doctors Association NSW (RDA NSW).
RDN CEO Richard Colbran said Dr Abbott has made a significant contribution to his rural community by providing high quality continuity of care.
“It is rare for rural doctors to be formally recognised for the outstanding contribution they make to their community and acknowledged for the work they do,” Mr Colbran said.
“This award provides a unique opportunity for the people of Scone to acknowledge the difference that Dr Abbott makes to the health and wellbeing of the community.”
The dinner presentation was attended by more than 200 guests, representing GPs from across rural, regional and remote NSW.
Accompanying Dr Abbott on the night was his wife and Upper Hunter Shire Councillor, Mrs Sue Abbott, their daughter Phillipa and her partner James.
This year, Dr Abbott was also the recipient of the prestigious RDA NSW Bowman/Cutter award for recognition of his contribution towards political issues related to rural health.
Dr Abbott has worked rurally for over 35 years providing obstetric, anaesthetic and general medical care and held the positions as Past President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of RDANSW.
More recently, Dr Abbott has been the Statewide Director of the Rural Generalist Training Program for NSW, vital in developing the pathway that will streamline the process of getting rural generalist doctors into towns.
Dr Abbott currently works part-time for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill while maintaining active clinical practice in Scone.
