For over 30 years, general practitioner Dr Mike Jenkin has been serving the Swanson community.
His dedication to the community has been recognised with a Community Service Medal by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.
A large part of the growth and success of the Swanson Medical Centre has been down to the type of communication and care that Dr Jenkin provides his patients. He is well-known for taking the time to get to know his patients and going the extra mile to support their needs, including being a founding member of the local after-hours service.
Dr Jenkin has a true cradle to grave approach to general practice. He once delivered 70 babies in one year as an obstetric GP, and then gaining a Diploma in Geriatric Medicine and providing expert care to the older population in the community. At one stage he even worked as a Police doctor.
Living and working in the community for many years before the rise of mobile phones meant that patients would often just turn up at his practice, at his house, or call him at home when they required medical attention. And despite the unpredictability of the job, and the long hours, Dr Jenkins was never known to complain.
Dr Samantha Murton, College President says, “Dr Jenkin is a true community GP. The range of illness and concerns he has seen over his career treating young and old alike just shows the real benefit that a specialist GP can bring to a community.”
The Community Service Medal recognises members of the College who have made an outstanding contribution to general practice through work in their communities.