John Hugh Ross

John Hugh Ross, war hero and the outstanding Hereford doctor of his generation, died quietly in his sleep at home on 8 July, 2016. Born in Hampstead in 1920, he qualified as a doctor in 1950 after distinguished war service, had married while a student, and came to Hereford as consultant physician in 1961. Jean and he had four children, who grew up in Hereford.

Many of the best aspects of Hereford's NHS hospitals were planned, designed, and pushed through by John. Always fully committed to a successful NHS he founded the Hereford postgraduate medical centre (one of the first in the West Midlands region), which bears his name. Proper staff accommodation at the County Hospital, the development of a coronary unit and intensive care unit, and the introduction of computed tomography scanning are a few examples of improvements that came early to Hereford as a result of John’s vision, foresight, and eloquence. He introduced renal dialysis to Hereford. He was always a fine teacher, and generations of doctors in training enjoyed the kindness and hospitality of John …