Obituary - Dr Ian James MacBean

1930 to 2007

Ian MacBean was born on 12 September 1930 into a medical family - mother, aunt and sister going into medicine. He was educated at Dundee High School, followed by St Andrews University. After graduating MB ChB 1955 he completed his resident posts in Dundee Royal Infirmary, and a further six months at the Royal Aberdeen Hospital for Sick Children. This was followed by a D.Obst. RCOG in Birmingham, and then a one year GP trainee assistant post in St Andrews with a view to becoming a GP in Scotland. After a post in Chelmsford gaining a DA, he chose a career in anaesthesia. Training continued at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh as a registrar and then Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Anaesthetic Department, headed by Dr J.D.Robertson, later Professor, gaining his FFARCS ( now FRCA ) in 1965.

He was appointed to his consultant post at King's Lynn & West Norfolk General Hospital, now The Queen Elizabeth, in 1966 joining Dr G. Parry-Williams.

His training led to a great interest in intensive care, resulting in the first IT beds in King's Lynn.

Later as Senior Anaesthetic Consultant he cared greatly for the welfare and training of junior staff. He always had time to listen to the concerns of nurses and patients and was respected by colleagues.

He was also a member of the commissioning team for The Queen Elizabeth Hospital which opened in 1980.

Early retirement due to ill health in 1985 gave him more time for his many interests - family, beekeeping, gardening, books, philately, history, genealogy and computing - but he continued to be interested in all medical advances.

He kept life long contact with friends from school, university, rugby & fishing days, and later kept in contact with medical colleagues worldwide.

As a colleague wrote 'The trouble with a long retirement is that people tend to forget your contribution whilst working.'

Ian died at home on 5 February 2007 - carcinnomatosis. He is survived by his wife Pamela whom he married in St Andrews 1960, three children, seven grandchildren and sister.

James MacBean