Peter John Firth Baskett
Authors: Jerry Nolan, Douglas Chamberlain
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Peter Baskett was one of the world’s leading figures in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and prehospital care. In the early 1970s he developed advanced training for ambulance crews who were among the first paramedics in Europe. He was also responsible for introducing premixed nitrous oxide/oxygen (Entonox) into the ambulance service in the United Kingdom in 1970.

Peter was born in Northern Ireland, the eldest of three sons of Sir Ronald Baskett, dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Queen’s University, Belfast. He won a scholarship to Queens’ College, Cambridge, where he completed his preclinical studies before returning to Belfast and graduating in 1958. His initial postgraduate training, including his first post in anaesthesia, was at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Peter completed his anaesthetic training in Bristol and was appointed consultant anaesthetist to United Bristol Hospitals and Frenchay Hospital in 1966, a position he held until retiring in 1999. Along with the late John Zorab, he established the intensive care unit at Frenchay Hospital in 1967.

Early in his career Peter was concerned that ambulance crews had no effective means of relieving pain, so he persuaded the then Gloucestershire service to train crews in the use of Entonox, previously used principally for childbirth. By 1970 the success of this initiative spurred Peter into providing additional extended training for effective staffing by ambulance crews of a mobile resuscitation unit that carried not only Entonox but also defibrillators and equipment to record and—years ahead of its time—transmit electrocardiograms from ambulance to hospital. This, together with schemes in a few centres in the United States and an additional centre in Brighton, led to the development of paramedics who were eventually to become a profession in their own right in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, general practitioners, led by Kenneth Easton, were founding GP-based schemes which led to the foundation of the British Association for Immediate Care Schemes (BASICS). Peter was a founder member, and later chairman (1981-5), of this organisation. He was also a founder member of a committee that in 1981 evolved from BASICS—the Community Resuscitation Advisory Committee (CRAC). In 1984 this committee became the Resuscitation Council (UK)—the first resuscitation council in Europe. Five years later Peter was one of the founding members of the European Resuscitation Council and was elected chairman (1989-94). Over 100 publications attest to his knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, particularly airway management. In 2005, in recognition of Peter’s international contributions to this discipline, the American Heart Association acknowledged him a “resuscitation giant.” He was editor in chief of Resuscitation from 1997 until his death.

Peter was an extraordinary lecturer, and it was a privilege to watch him inspire audiences around the world. He loved to challenge conventional practice, and frequently did so with a delivery that excited the open minded and with vocabulary that created new levels of political incorrectness. Following Peter on the podium ranked as one of the most difficult tasks for any lecturer.

Peter’s enthusiasm, hard work, and administrative skills were by no means confined to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Peter was president (“officer in charge”) of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (1990-2), the united services section of the Royal Society of Medicine (1997-9), the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine (1989-93), the International Trauma Anaesthesia and Critical Care Society (1995-8), the Triservice Society of Anaesthetists (1994-5), and the Society of Anaesthetists of the South Western Region (1997-8). He spent 12 years on the council of the (now) Royal College of Anaesthetists. In 1999 he was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine in recognition of his contribution to the evolution of this specialty. In the same year he was elected FRCP by the Royal College of Physicians.

Peter joined the Territorial Army (Royal Army Medical Corps) in 1983 and became colonel and commanding officer of 219 Wessex Field Hospital in 1992. He was influential in the development of trauma services in the UK. He established a strong alliance with the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, USA, which gave many British anaesthetists the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge. As always, Peter led from the front—in 1988 he was among the first group of doctors in the UK to be trained as an instructor for the advanced trauma life support course, and he pioneered this course in the south west.

Peter had a passion for motor sport. In the 1950s he raced minis, but he realised that he might live marginally longer if he placed himself on the outside of the track as a “doc on the corner.” Peter was appointed chief medical officer to Castle Combe circuit in 1968, a position he held until 1995. He continued to attend motor sport events as a doctor until he became ill in 2007.

Although he retired from clinical practice in 1999, Peter continued to work harder than most of us in full time employment. He personally introduced the European advanced life support course into 22 countries, which entailed directing about two courses a month for several years and was accompanied by an exhausting travelling schedule. This sustained commitment to frontline hands-on teaching was extraordinary for a man of his experience and stature and because of this he was admired by healthcare professionals throughout Europe. He remained close friends with many instructors and course directors right up to his death.

He is survived by his wife, Fiona, a general practitioner; son, Simon; and daughters, Lucy, Olivia, and Beatrice.