Maurice Hickey: Maurice Hickey, the leading Irish chest surgeon of his time, has died in Limerick at the age of 89.
A giant of Irish medicine, he profoundly changed much in his area of expertise. His achievements were recognised when he was made a Freeman of Cork in 1992.
Born in Cork, he was the fifth of nine children of Maurice and Joan Hickey. He was educated at Presentation College, Cork and Rochestown College, Co Cork.
There were early signs of brilliance when he qualified from University College Cork in 1941 with first-class honours, winning the Pearson Medal in surgery, and the Blayney scholarship and bursary in surgery. He held training posts at the City Hospital and the General Hospital in Nottingham before moving to the London Chest Hospital where he became surgical first assistant (junior consultant). He became consultant thoracic surgeon to London County Council.
In 1948 he was the first local authority cardio-thoracic surgeon appointed in Ireland. When he came to Dublin, trained to London standards and in answer to an advertisement (which was a great rarity in those days), he was immediately recognised as the right man, in the right place, at the right time, by then minister for health Dr Noel Browne. The pair hit it off immediately and Browne gave instructions to the department officials to "give Mr Hickey whatever he wants".
He had brought his own instruments with him from London such was shortage of funds in those days. Hickey operated on patients throughout the country, spending two days each week in Dublin (St Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park and Rialto Chest Hospital), two days in Cork and a day in the Castlerea Chest Hospital, Co Roscommon. He declined an offer from the Department of Health of a chauffeur-driven car.
His results set new standards. He was the first in Ireland to operate successfully on a blocked mitral heart valve. This was carried out in what was then St Kevin's (now St James's ) Hospital in Dublin in 1949.
His particular interest was congenital heart disease. When he transferred to Cork, he and his colleagues reported the first Irish series of successful closures of hole in the heart in 10 children. These operations were carried out in St Finbarr's Hospital which, at that time, still had relatively modest facilities. He had a superb symbiotic relationship with Dr Desmond Gaffney, the chief anaesthetist.
He subsequently worked in Sarsfield's Court Hospital outside Cork and eventually in Cork University Hospital.
West Cork Man of the Year in 1972, he was a genuine legend in his working lifetime. He had a most imposing appearance - a larger-than-life figure, well over 6ft, carefully groomed, broad shouldered, with trademark centre parting of his huge head of hair. Nothing but the best was good enough for his patients. He was dogmatic, ruthless, not particularly popular with colleagues and often rubbed people up the wrong way.
He was a fervent Catholic and was charitable about others. He was an indulgent father, greatly loved by his family. He did not make, nor did he seek to make, a lot of money in private practice.
He loved the sea and in retirement he went to Baltimore where he sailed, fished and played golf.
He is survived by his wife Dr Mary Hickey (nee Burke), three daughters and a son.
Maurice Hickey, born June 11th, 1915; died May 16th, 2005