James Irvine Cromarty
BMJ 2010; 340 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c1751 (Published 26 March 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:c1751
James I Cromarty (“Jim”) grew up in wartime Stromness, son of the local general practitioner, and after qualifying pursued a varied career in the Royal Air Force. He commanded Royal Air Force Medical Rehabilitation Unit (RAFMRU) Chessington and No 3 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hospital Richmond, but he particularly enjoyed his year at RAF Gan in the Maldives, where he was GP, dentist, anaesthetist, and obstetrician to 600 servicemen and many more islanders.
In 1975 he returned to his native Orkney. As general manager of the health board he buffered the islands from the excesses of central policies designed for the south. As a manager his robust banter poorly concealed a deep personal interest in all who worked for him.
Predeceased by his wife, Joyce, in 2002, he leaves two sons and four grandchildren, with a doctor in each generation.
Notes
Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:c1751
Footnotes
Former chief administrative medical officer Orkney (b 1928; q Edinburgh 1951; QHP, OBE, FFPH, RAF), died from prostate cancer on 20 July 2009.