A Whangamatā doctor has been acknowledged with a Queen’s Service Medal for his services to rural health in this year’s New Year Honours.
Dr Michael Miller has been a general practitioner in Whangamatā for 33 years, advocating for improved health outcomes for patients living in rural communities.
Dr Miller acquired the Whangamatā Medical Centre in 1990, developing it into the town’s first purpose-built medical facility which opened in 1995.
As clinical lead, he expanded and improved the medical services available to the community by establishing modern, integrated primary health care services at the practice.
In 2005, he founded Whangamatā Community Health, a charitable trust, which raised funding for radiology and ultrasound services to be delivered locally.
He successfully secured additional funding for after-hours medical care and the establishment of primary care beds in the town’s aged residential care facility.
He has been a strong advocate for the provision of comprehensive 24/7 care and the training of medical students, postgraduate doctors and GP registrars in rural practice.
He was a founding member and treasurer of the Rural General Practice Network and the rural electorate representative of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Council.
He has been a member of several GP and rural advisory groups, including the Pinnacle PHO management group and Midland Health Network rural advisory group.
Dr Miller champions the use of point of care ultrasound in primary care for rural communities in particular.
The 2024 New Years Honours list acknowledges a wide range of people serving their communities, and recognises those who have achieved something special.
