by John Findlater
Professor Patrick Sarsfield Byrne died suddenly at Levens on February 25th 1980 “with a glass in his hand and an anecdote on his lips”. In my opinion, and that of many, “Pat” Byrne was one of the most important figures in General Medical Practice in the second half of the twentieth century, not just in Britain, but internationally also.
He was born in Birkenhead, the son of a butcher, eldest of eight children in a devout Irish Catholic family. It was an unusually close and lively family whose life was focussed on the church. Why he aspired to a career in medicine can only be speculated on. But, a highly intelligent boy, he made his way by scholarships and entered Liverpool Medical School at the age of seventeen in 1930. After distinguishing himself academically as a student (while taking a full part in social activities, especially debating and sport) he came to Milnthorpe in 1936 to join the practice of Dr Caldwell, a brilliant and progressive doctor, who was a pioneer in radiology, paying the price later from its side-effects.
Married to a fellow student, Kathleen Pearson, Pat settled first in Milnthorpe. Then he and Kathleen moved to 72 Lancaster Road, Carnforth in 1939, there incorporating the practice of Dr Moss, and making the “Caldwell” practice a vast bi-polar affair, spreading from Lancaster in the south into the Lakes and Kendal area, bounded by the Lune and the sea.
Pat and Kathleen settled happily in this area, raising a family of six and building up their practice. Pat took part in the social life, active in amateur dramatics, playing cricket for Carnforth and taking up golf. He had a passion for bridge, often playing late into the night. Creeping into bed on one occasion he answered Kathleen’s sleepy enquiry as to the time. “Half past one”, he said, just as the clock struck six. Fishing, which became his most satisfying sporting hobby, came later. He joined the Rotary club.
The second world war took Pat away to serve as a Medical Officer in the Royal Air Force. His absence was brief, because he was recalled owing to Dr Caldwell’s illness. During the terrible days of the war he practised under the great difficulties which faced those doctors who remained in civilian life; he was a captain in the Home Guard, lectured on First Aid, took evacuees into his own home, besides coping with his crushing practice commitments. The story of the “stay behind” doctors is a topic that has not received the attention it deserves.
The end of the war found Pat living in Milnthorpe having moved back there in 1944 as Dr Caldwell’s incapacity increased. These were the days when practices were still bought and sold, and at the beginning of 1946 he bought Dr Caldwell out. He was joined in the practice by Dr Philip Holmes, and by Dr William H. Berry and his wife ” Brownie” (Dr S. L. Wray) each of whom bought shares in the practice. Later, in 1955, I amalgamated my single-handed practice, ( which was centred on Robin Hill in Market Street, Carnforth and had previously been Dr E. S. Jackson’s) with that of Dr Byrne and his partners.
The arguments and “politicking” over the National Health Service, which had gone on through the war and immediate post-war period, resulted in its introduction in July 1949, despite overwhelming opposition from the medical profession. It was about this time that Pat, already heavily committed as the workaholic senior partner of the large country practice, took an increasing part in medico-political affairs in the British Medical Association, and on various committees within the N. H. S. administration. Like many others he was concerned with the state of General Practice at the time. It was in turmoil; General Practitioners felt harassed and uncertain of their role in the new National Health Service, in which the medical personnel was too firmly split into three; those in general practice, in hospitals and in public health. There were doubts too, about the adequacy of vocational training for primary medical care and an acknowledgement of the need for continuing post- graduate education. Pat eagerly took part in the development of the College of General Practitioners which was set up in 19521 to combat some of these deficiencies. He quickly became involved in educational activities, and assumed office.
By the early sixties, Pat had drawn the attention of influential medical establishment figures to himself. In particular he had impressed Sir Robert Platt, Professor of Medicine at Manchester, and President of the Royal College of Physicians, and also Lord Stopford, the retired Vice-Chancellor of Manchester University, who lived at Arnside. This led, by steps, to Pat being enticed from his practice to become senior lecturer in General Practice in Sir Robert Platt’s Department of Medicine at Manchester. He was appointed to a Travelling Fellowship in Medical Education to North America (the 65th to hold the fellowship, but he was the first G. P. ), which gave him his first contacts with overseas medical educationalists, something he was to develop over the years. He was awarded the O. B. E. in 1966.
Having served his apprenticeship satisfactorily, he was given the opportunity to become the hinge figure on the steering committee of the Senate to set up a proper Department of General Practice in the Medical School at Manchester. That he should be prepared, at the age of fifty-four, to give up his very remunerative practice which gave him such fulfilment, and leave behind the patients whose lives had become part of his, swapping lovely Westmorland for grimy Manchester is surprising enough. (Though he kept his lovely home “Grievegate” at Heversham and escaped there as often as he could.) That he did this to take on such a formidable task as the setting up of a University department of General Practice indicates high courage and breath-taking self-confidence. In my view, he made this decision because he felt called to this task; basically a religious impulse.
Despite this unimaginably daunting task Pat also laboured mightily in the College of General Practitioners, in particular as Chairman of the Court of Examiners – in other words chief examiner. He became a valued member of the inner group of influential people guiding national medical development. Having gained the confidence of key figures such as Sir George Godber, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, his advice carried weight. He also began to make more trips abroad where he observed and learned, as well as contributed to ideas about Primary Medical Care and its teaching. Later his advice would be sought in many countries, including the underdeveloped countries. Canada, the U.S.A., New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Latin American and Caribbean countries and more, all benefitted from his opinions and advice. He also took an avid interest in moves to harmonise attitudes in medical developments in the European Community.
In 1972 Pat was elected to the Chair of General Practice – the first in England – at Manchester. In November 1973 he was elected President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and in 1975 awarded the C. B.E. Pat retired from the Chair in 1978, was and returned to his adopted homeland – Westmorland.
- It received a Royal Charter in April 1967 ↩︎
Published in Mourholme Magazines Issue 17 1991