Derbyshire’s general practice heroes celebrated at inaugural award ceremony
“It is fantastic to see such a wide range of people represented, from those at the beginning of their careers to experienced leaders and colleagues who have spent many years working in general practice.”
Reception teams, clinicians, practice leaders, and community champions were among those celebrated after more than 140 nominations were submitted for the inaugural Derbyshire General Practice Awards.
Hosted by The Hub Plus, during their 10th anniversary year, the awards brought together colleagues in Chesterfield, to shine a spotlight on the people behind Derbyshire’s GP practices and recognise the incredible people and teams that make up general practice today.
The awards celebrated the breadth of roles that make up modern general practice, recognising clinical and non-clinical colleagues including reception and care navigation teams, administrators, managers, healthcare support workers, nurses, pharmacists, Advanced Clinical Practitioners and GPs.
An independent judging panel had the difficult task of reviewing the nominations, with five nominees shortlisted in each category. The black-tie celebration brought together colleagues from across Derbyshire general practice for an evening of recognition and celebration, with the awards presented by host Phil Hammond alongside guest presenters.
Following an enthusiastic response from practices across Derbyshire, the awards brought forward stories of exceptional individuals, teams, and achievements.
The winners of the inaugural Derbyshire General Practice Awards 2026 were:
· Rising Star Award: Paige Keetley
· Patient Champion Award: Benjamin Kavanagh
· Clinical Excellence Award: Carmen Villegas-Galvez
· Reception Team Award: Stubley Medical Centre
· Lifetime Achievement Award: Gail Allsopp
· Future Leader Award: Patience Young
· Leadership in Practice Award: Gemma Baines and Reception Team
· Community Impact Award: Amy Armiger
· PCN of the Year Award: Chesterfield & Dronfield PCN
· Unsung Hero Award: Tove Cecilia Lindgren
· Practice Team Award: Dronfield Medical Practice
Dr Kathy McLean, Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board and guest presenter at the awards, said: “Every day, thousands of people across Derby and Derbyshire rely on their local general practice, and behind that are teams of people bringing an incredible range of skills and experience. General practice is full of brilliant people, and these awards were a chance to give them some well-deserved recognition. It is fantastic to see such a wide range of people represented, from those at the beginning of their careers to experienced leaders and colleagues who have spent many years working in general practice. It was a real privilege to join colleagues in celebrating their achievements.”
Dr Susie Bayley, Medical Director of The Hub Plus, said: “As we celebrate ten years of The Hub Plus, we wanted to give something back to the practices and people we are proud to support. These awards were an opportunity to recognise the incredible dedication, skill and compassion that exists across Derbyshire general practice and to celebrate the wide range of roles that help deliver outstanding care every day.”