A ‘supportive’ and ‘unfailingly’ helpful GP manager has been recognised by a prestigious awards scheme.

NPC Ponteland’s senior practice lead Nicola Rice has been shortlisted for the Practice Manager of the Year category at the 2025 General Practice Awards.

NPC Ponteland is a Northumbria Primary Care GP practice. Northumbria Primary Care (NPC) is an at-scale provider of primary care services in Northumberland and North Tyneside. NPC serves 130,000 patients across 12 GP practices and 22 locations.

The General Practice Awards, organised by Cogora (publisher of Pulse and Management in Practice), celebrate excellence across primary care, recognising individuals and teams from across the country who go above and beyond. The Practice Manager of the Year award recognises exceptional leaders who have made a real difference to their practice, staff and local communities.

Nicola has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and the transformation she has achieved at NPC Ponteland. Stepping into her role during a period of instability, she has improved patient experience, guided the practice through a period of change and boosted team morale. Nicola has also strengthened engagement with the practice’s patient participation group, ensuring services reflect local needs.

Patients have benefitted from more efficient systems, better access to care, and a stronger focus on community health, while staff have gained from a positive, supportive workplace culture.

Nicola Rice, senior practice lead at NPC Ponteland, said:

“I’m over the moon to be shortlisted for Practice Manager of the Year, but this nomination really belongs to the whole team at NPC Ponteland. Their hard work and commitment to our patients is second to none. I feel so lucky to work alongside them every day!”

“For me, this nomination is about the difference we’ve been able to make for patients. Improving access, building trust and shaping services around local needs has been at the heart of everything we do. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited about what comes next.”

Nicola’s nomination reflects her strong leadership, innovation, professionalism, and a measurable impact on patient care. Her achievements not only benefit NPC Ponteland, but also the wider healthcare service.

David Hedgcock, NPC’s managing director, said:

“Nicola’s shortlisting is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work she has put into transforming NPC Ponteland over recent years. I have seen firsthand the challenges faced by Ponteland. Nicola and the team have used this to create momentum, team spirit and a dogmatic approach to turning the practice around. Her leadership has fostered a supportive environment for staff and greatly improved services for patients, the warmth and connectivity amongst the team is palpable and like nothing I have seen at NPC Ponteland previously.

“I have every confidence the practice will use this foundation to do great things. We are proud to see Nicola recognised nationally and delighted that the whole practice team’s progress is being celebrated, rightly so!”

Michael Clarke, chair of NPC Ponteland’s patient participation group, added:

“Nicola has been unfailingly helpful in her support for the PPG. She has created an open dialogue between the practice and patients, taking their concerns seriously. In her role, she has overseen a massive reduction in telephone waiting times, the primary concern of patients at one point in time.”

The winners of the General Practice Awards will be announced later this year at a ceremony in London, bringing together healthcare professionals from across the country to celebrate the best in primary care.