Pioneer of cancer care dies at 90

7:00pm Friday 31st August 2007

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DR RONALD Fisher, founder of the Macmillan cancer care unit at Christchurch hospital and a pioneer of NHS palliative care, has died at the age of 90.

His philosophy that people could and should be helped to live with cancer rather than just die from its effects has eased the pain for countless thousands of patients and their families since the country's first Macmillan unit opened at Christchurch in 1975.

"His memory will always be with us as the man whose brains and dedication saw the foundation of palliative care."

Keith Lomas

As senior anaesthetist at the Bournemouth and East Dorset group of hospitals, Dr Fisher persuaded the health authorities to meet the operating costs if he could find the public support to build and equip a specialist unit for terminal cancer patients.

He spearheaded the successful local fundraising campaign bolstered by a grant from the National Society for Cancer Relief - now Macmillan Cancer Relief - and became the unit's first consultant physician.

When Dr Fisher retired seven years later there were 11 similar units around the country and he had also pioneered NHS home care - now known nationally as the Macmillan Nursing Service - for cancer patients and the first day care cancer unit.

In retirement he continued as a Macmillan trustee, lectured widely on palliative care and wrote three authoritative manuals on the subject of cancer care.

Last year he was presented with the prestigious Macmillan Gold Medal for outstanding services to cancer relief worldwide.

Keith Lomas, current chairman of the Macmillan Cancer Trust at Christchurch Hospital, said: "His memory will always be with us as the man whose brains and dedication saw the foundation of palliative care and we as trustees are delighted to continue the wonderful work he started."

Dr Fisher trained in medicine at the Middlesex Hospital, London and later he became a consultant anaesthetist at Bournemouth and East Dorset where the region's anaesthetic departments are named in his honour.

He was an accomplished amateur actor at the Bournemouth Little Theatre Club, and he became chairman of the Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth, and a director on the board of several top London theatres.

Dr Fisher is survived by his wife Gwyneth, known as Binnie, and their two daughters.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Church, Branksome Park, on September 14.