Duncan MacKinnon named the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners GP of the year

An innovative south coast GP has topped the nation after his response to the Black Summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bega Valley Medical Practice’s doctor Duncan MacKinnon.

Innovative south coast doctor Duncan MacKinnon has been named the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners General Practitioner of the year for 2020 for his “exemplary leadership” during both the bushfire and COVID-19 emergencies.

After a year of testing health emergencies, Dr MacKinnon says the next great challenge for the sector will be implementing a COVID-19 vaccine when it is made available.

“The challenge is really going to be the COVID vaccine and how we implement it nationally,” he said.

“That will all be played out, but there needs to be more co-operation from a federal level. The states have done all the hard work so far.

Bega GP Duncan MacKinnon says implementing a COVID-19 vaccine will have many challenges. Picture: Supplied

“Victoria was criticised, but they’ve done it right. I think we are getting better at acting on COVID now.

“We’ve got a long way to go with COVID, but Australia has done well.”

During the first wave of the disease, Dr MacKinnon and others connected with the south coast’s North of Eden Gin distillery to help supply the region with hand sanitiser and sanitiser stations.

Dr MacKinnon said he feels “fortunate” to receive the prestigious award, adding communities are now facing new health challenges brought on by the pandemic, and anxiety around the bushfire seasons.

He said the health sector has faced many delays during COVID-19, and is warning residents to make time for themselves, especially those working from home and feeling isolated.

“You don’t do this job for the limelight, it’s all done behind the scenes,” he said.

During the 2019-20 bushfires, he helped co-ordinate the local health response, including at the local evacuation centre and has played a key role in advocating for GPs in the local emergency response, and fought strongly for increased funding and support for counselling services post-bushfires.

“I think people are anxious as Christmas approaches. People are being triggered and people are telling their bushfire survival stories again. Many people who stayed behind to save property say they will never do it again,” he said.

RACGP Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda (centre). Picture: Supplied

“It’s still hard to get counselling, so it’s hard for everyone at the moment.”

A GP for the last 25 years, Dr MacKinnon runs the Bega Valley Medical Practice, and is also a Visiting Medical Officer, GP anaesthetist, and the Bega Valley GP Liaison Officer, who contributes many valuable hours to the South East Regional Hospital as well as the local health network.

He is also a part time senior lecturer with the Australian National University Rural Clinical School and, along with his wife Sue, created an Australian-first nurse-led GP clinic for teenagers called Teen Clinic to help meet the needs of rural teenagers.

RACGP Acting President Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda said, since winning the state award earlier this year, Dr MacKinnon was “a strong contender” for the national award.

“Dr MacKinnon is held in the highest regard in his community. He is a GP who worked tirelessly through the summer’s bushfires, which tore through the region claiming lives, destroying homes and leaving many people fearful for their future,” he said.