Dr Michael Marchant Hills
Personal Details
Dr Michael Marchant Hills MBChB FFARCS
03/09/1934 to 2007
Nationality: British
CRN: 504243
Also known as: Mike
Education and qualifications
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General education |
Bishop Vesey Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield; Birmingham University |
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Primary medical qualification(s) |
MBChB, Birmingham, 1957 |
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Initial Fellowship and type |
FFARCS by examination |
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Year of Fellowship |
1964 |
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Other qualification(s) |
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Professional life and career
Postgraduate career
Michael Hills began his career as a house officer at the City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent before sailing to Jamaica to take up the post of Assistant Medical Officer at Falmouth, Jamaica and progressing to Medical Officer at Kingston Public Hospital. He returned to take up a registrar post at St Thomas’ Hospital, London and became a Senior Registrar at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital. He was appointed as a Consultant Anaesthetist to Cheltenham General in 1971 before moving across the county to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH). He retired in 1997.
Professional interests and activities
Dr Michael Hills was appointed to Cheltenham General to steer the running and development of their Intensive Care Unit (ICU). His previous experience in Jamaica and short spells in Sweden had contributed to his expertise in this area. Gloucestershire Royal Hospital did not have an Intensive Care Unit and his subsequent move across the county was to establish one from scratch, with Dr Roger Eltringham. Initially there was opposition from some surgeons and anaesthetists to anaesthetists having sessions outside the operating room. Michael created guidelines and protocols for use in the ICU and built a good team of anaesthetic trainees and nurses, supported by a great deal of teaching and successfully won the support of his colleagues. Although considered serious and very conscientious he was very popular with the theatre staff where his name gained the epithet “Mike Hills – Bless him”.
Other biographical information
Outside medicine Mike Hills had an active social life and enjoyed classical concerts, cycling, tennis and skiing and in his retirement, walking and reading. He was married to Muriel with whom he had two sons, Alexander and Oliver. Sadly, he was killed in a motorbike accident, whilst enjoying the Gloucestershire countryside, 10 years after he retired.
Author and Sources
Author: Dr E Anne Thornberry
Sources and any other comments: Medical Register; Electoral Roles; Find My Past; A tribute in Acute Angle, May 2007 – a GRH publication; personal communication from Muriel Hills and Roger Eltringham