Dr Barry Miller - Gold Medal

Dr Barry Miller has been a pillar of the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM) since its foundation in 2007. As one of the original founding members, he immediately took on an active role, serving as Regional Advisor in Pain Medicine for the Northwest of England from 2007 to 2015.

Dr Miller was among the first members of the Training and Assessment Committee (TAC), where he played a pivotal role in developing the FPM logbook, e-Portfolio, and work-based assessments for Advanced Pain Training. He also contributed extensively to the creation of key guidance documents for both trainers and trainees. His involvement extended to shaping national policy, serving as the Faculty’s advisor on the GMC’s “Shape of Training” review. Notably, Dr Miller was instrumental in the development and successful launch of the FFPMRCA examination in 2012. As Chair of the TAC until 2015, he applied a meticulous and legally astute approach to reviewing all Faculty documents, ensuring the rigour and robustness of FPM’s educational processes—an essential foundation for quality assurance in the Faculty’s early years.

Since 2016, Dr Miller has been a strong supporter of the Credential for the Pain Medicine Specialist, contributing to its design and development from inception.

Elected to the FPM Board in 2012, Dr Miller has been its longest-serving member to date. He was elected Dean of the Faculty in 2016, a position he held with distinction until 2019. His tenure saw major achievements, including the publication of Opioids Aware and the first edition of the Core Standards for Pain Management Services in the UK. Opioids Aware, launched in 2016, is an online resource for patients and healthcare professionals to support safe and informed opioid prescribing. It received endorsement from Public Health England, multiple Royal Colleges, and patient advocacy groups, and continues to be referenced both nationally and internationally. The Core Standards document, now in its second edition, was endorsed by the Care Quality Commission and provides clinicians with benchmarks to support service improvement and high-quality care in pain management.

Following his term as Dean, Dr Miller remained a highly active and valued member of the Board until March 2025 offering his wisdom and mentorship to successive Deans. From 2019 to 2024, he served as Chair of the Medicines Advisory Committee, frequently engaging with media on topics relating to medicines use in pain management.

Dr Miller’s professional background is extensive and distinguished. A graduate of the University of Manchester (MB ChB), he is a Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA), the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMRCA), and the College of Emergency Medicine (FCEM). He trained on the Greater Manchester Anaesthetic Rotation from 1995 to 2000 and was appointed Consultant in Anaesthesia at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in December 2000, a post he continues to hold.

Professional Memberships:

• Fellow, Faculty of Pain Medicine (FFPMRCA)

• Fellow, Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA)

• Fellow, College of Emergency Medicine (FCEM)

• British Medical Association

• British Pain Society

• International Association for the Study of Pain

• Manchester Medical Society

Special Interests and Contributions:

Dr Miller is a highly regarded clinician with a special interest in interventional management of cancer pain. He runs a single-handed service at his local hospice, using expert interventions to provide relief to patients at the end of life. His work in non-cancer pain medicine is equally vital and he continues to work full time in the NHS.

He also serves as a member of the Neurology, Pain and Psychiatry Expert Advisory Group to the Commission on Human Medicines, offering guidance on the safety and efficacy of medicines in these domains. This group contributed to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 Advisory Bodies – Annual Report 2022, published by the UK Government.
(Report link: Gov.uk Annual Report 2022)

In addition, Dr Miller is a member of a Regional Ethics Committee and serves as a peer reviewer for the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Dr Miller concluded his final term on the FPM Board in March 2025. This marked the end of an era. His wisdom, energy, and extraordinary contributions have shaped the Faculty in profound and lasting ways. 

We can think of no worthier recipient of the RCoA Gold Medal in recognition of his outstanding service and enduring legacy.