A GP has won a top accolade an an awards ceremony.

Dr Omon Imohi, who works at Leigh Family Practice, was named GP of the Year at the Royal College of General Practitioners North West annual awards.

The faculty represents GPs across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria and has just under 3,000 members

Dr Imohi had been nominated for her leadership at the practice, based at Bridgewater Medical Centre on Henry Street.

She has strengthened clinical governance, championed palliative care and created a new, integrated model for visiting nursing and care homes which has cut inefficiency and reduced unnecessary hospital admissions.

Dr Imohi and her colleague Dr Olukayode Adeeko also won the Audit Prize for a scheme they carried out at the surgery.

The project tracked heart attack patients using a specific drug and put extra safeguards in place to ensure they were not on the medication for too long.

Dr Imohi said: “I wish to appreciate my mentor and senior colleague Dr Adeeko who keeps encouraging and motivating me to take more challenging roles and unleash my potentials.

“I would not have been able to use my leadership skills and impact in the lives of my patients without the opportunity that Dr Sanjay, Dr Shikha Pitalia and SSP health has given me.

"I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve.

“I also appreciate my husband, who has supported me through especially the last year since I took over lead role at Leigh Family Practice.”

Dr Imohi also introduced a patient information newsletter and launched a charitable organisation, Black Women In Health, which helps female health professionals.

She also praised the hard work of staff at Leigh Family Practice, led by Amanda Geary, who have worked hard to improve services there since SSP Health took over the surgery in summer 2018.

The practice received a "good" rating from the Care Quality Commission in April.

READ > Boost for care service after rating is improved

SSP Health’s chief operating officer Noeleen Bailey said: “We are overjoyed that Dr Imohi’s incredibly hard work at Leigh Family Practice has been recognised with this prestigious award.

“She is a caring and compassionate doctor who is passionate about improving healthcare.

"This award is even more special as it has been conferred on Dr Imohi by her peers in general practice who see how well she has done against the backdrop of this surgery’s very challenging circumstances.

“Dr Imohi and the practice team have been delivering excellent care to the patients at Leigh Family Practice and this award is testament to that.”