23 Facts About Peter Baskett

Peter John Firth Baskett was a Northern Irish physician, specializing in anaesthesia.

Peter Baskett was responsible for the introduction of paramedics into the United Kingdom, created specialist ambulances for delivering on-scene pain relief to patients, and was the first chairman of the European Resuscitation Council.

Peter Baskett attended Belfast Royal Academy and Campbell College, Belfast.

Peter Baskett then studied medicine at Queens' College, Cambridge, for his pre-clinical studies, then finished his degree at Queen's University, Belfast, where he graduated with MB BCh BAO in 1958.

Peter Baskett took this on and worked as a locum in general practice both in rural practices as well as in Belfast.

Peter Baskett then began to explore the possibility of specialising in anaesthesia.

Peter Baskett had watched anaesthetists at work and had administered the mandatory anaesthetics as a medical student.

Peter Baskett approached the late Professor John Dundee who appointed him to a post in his department.

Peter Baskett then travelled to London but, instead of doing the surgical primary fellowship as had been his original intention, he sat the anaesthetic primary fellowship going on to acquire the fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1963.

However, while all this was going on, Peter Baskett had turned his mind to the practical aspects of providing a resuscitation service within the hospital.

Peter Baskett had, for some time, had a major interest in the use of Entonox in pain relief.

Peter Baskett approached the Chief Ambulance Officer for the Gloucestershire Ambulance Brigade, Alan Withnell.

Peter Baskett approached the British Oxygen Company, who were supportive and agreed to make Entonox apparatus available for training.

Peter Baskett's idea brought on-scene pain relief to thousands of patients every year.

Peter Baskett soon reasoned that if ambulance crews could be trained to provide Entonox for pain relief, there must be much more that they could learn and do.

Peter Baskett visited the manufacturers in Manchester and, together they designed a modified ambulance body with facilities for oxygen administration, ECG recording and Entonox.

Peter Baskett's idea was that, when not actually out on a call, the ambulance personnel having higher training could work in the emergency department.

Peter Baskett travelled extensively learning about other pre-hospital care schemes in other countries such as Germany and Denmark.

Peter Baskett was a founder member of this organisation and was later Chairman.

Peter Baskett was a founder member of the Community Resuscitation Advisory Committee.

Five years later, Peter Baskett was one of the Founding Members of the European Resuscitation Council and, in August 1989, at the first Executive Committee meeting of the ERC, he was elected chairman.

In 1983, Peter Baskett joined the Medical Section of the Territorial Army.

Peter Baskett was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Resuscitation from 1997 - 2008.