Last updated 19:25, Thursday, 20 November 2008

A MARYPORT doctor has been given a GP of the year award at a national ceremony.

Award: Dr Chaudhri receives his award from Neil Crawford, marketing director of award sponsore Gluten Free Foods

Dr Fayyaz Chaudhri was presented with his award at the 2008 Coeliac UK Awards during the charity’s annual volunteers’ conference in London.

Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with coeliac disease, presents the awards to people who have provided outstanding assistance to those with the disease, caused by intolerance to gluten. The only treatment is sticking to a strict life-long gluten-free diet.

Dr Chaudhri was nominated by a patient who said he had gone above and beyond the call of duty as a GP.

He has been instrumental in bringing the health service and coeliac patients in Maryport closer together and had a great understanding of the impacts of the illness.

Dr Chaudhri said: “I feel honoured to receive this award and although I have a distinct advantage as I myself have coeliac disease, which has forced me to have an interest, I am also aware of the subtleties around living with the condition and am keen to raise awareness amongst my medical colleagues and also in a wider community.

“Coeliac UK has done a wonderful job to improve the lives of people with coeliac disease, indeed more than the medical profession could have achieved on its own.”Gluten Free Foods sponsored the awards.”