Sir Donald Campbell

With his death, medicine in general and anaesthesia in particular has lost one of its most distinguished practitioners whose influence spread far beyond the boundaries of everyday practice. A tall, distinguished figure, he was a pioneer in many aspects of anaesthesia, particularly the introduction of intensive care units.

Campbell was born in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, in 1930. During the war he was evacuated to Blair Atholl, in Perthshire, where he stayed with two of his many aunts. His time there engendered in him a great love of the Highlands and its people. He also learned how to poach trout and salmon and this was the start of his lifelong love of fishing.

On returning to Glasgow he attended Hutcheson’s Boys Grammar School where he received a good grounding in leadership which was to become evident in the future.

In later years, he became a governor of his old school and last year he received a George and Thomas Hutcheson award (a "G&T" award) as one of its most distinguished alumni. G&T however, was not Campbell’s drink. He much preferred whisky.

After graduating in medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1952, he completed his resident posts and then left for Canada to begin training in anaesthesia.

He worked in Edmonton and in Lethbridge, Alberta, and after three years, in 1956, he returned to Glasgow.

Following further training in the Royal Infirmary and at Stobhill Hospital he became a fellow of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was appointed lecturer in the university department of anaesthetics at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1960. The following year he transferred to the health service department as a consultant, a post which he held for the next 15 years.

While in Canada, he developed an interest in anaesthesia for heart surgery and he also noted the early development of intensive care units which were associated with the concept of progressive patient care. He was determined to introduce this in the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, and with much lobbying and political skill, he succeeded in persuading his surgical colleagues that this was the best way forward for their patients.

The respiratory intensive care unit was opened in 1966. Campbell was its first director and the unit is a lasting memorial to his foresight and drive.

At the same time, he pursued his research interests in several areas mainly involving the development of more sophisticated ventilators, the pharmacology of new analgesic drugs and the effects of smoke inhalation on the lungs.