Patrick Sarsfield Byrne 1913-1980

Patrick Byrne was born in Birkenhead in 1913. He graduated MB ChB from the University of Liverpool in 1936. Until 1968, he was a general practitioner at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland. From 1968-1978 he worked at the University of Manchester's Darbishire House Health Centre, and was director of the University's department of general practice. In 1972 he became the professor of general practice at the University (the first such appointment in England). Byrne was a founder of the College of General Practitioners in 1952, and chaired its education committee between 1964-70. He was president from 1973-76. Byrne did much to improve education for general practitioners, and wrote the important Doctors talking to patients (with B.E.L. Long) (1976).Byrne was greatly influential in promoting the cause of education for general practice; he was a member of the College's working party which produced the report The future general practitioner in 1972. He was also chairman of the working party of the Leeuwenhorst Group which sought to define a role for the generla practitioner common to the eleven European countries which were members of the Group. Byrne was the recipient of many awards and gave many keynote lectures. He died in 1980, shortly after retirement.