Dr John MacKay

DR John MacKay, who has died aged 84, was a GP who helped shape the provision of healthcare in Glasgow and across Scotland.

He came from a disadvantaged background in a material sense but a background rich in family love and support. His parents both came from Harris, his father a carpenter in the Clyde shipyards who like so many suffered the consequences of the economic depression of the 1930s. His mother, like so many island girls, came to Glasgow and entered domestic service.

He was born in Govan and his early upbringing was in a tenement at Govan Cross, later moving to what at the time was a modern flat in Drumoyne. When the young MacKay was 11 his father died, leaving his mother with five children ranging in age from a year old to 16. But he showed scholastic ability and his mother and three sisters worked hard to ensure his potential was realised.

From Govan High School he went to Glasgow University from where he graduated MB, Ch B in 1949. Later he became a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. After nine months in junior hospital posts he made two trips to Australia as ship’s surgeon on vessels taking migrants to a new life Down Under.

On his return he was an assistant in the general practice of Drs Howie and Browning in Govan and in 1952 became a principal in the same practice – where he continued to serve the community until retiring in 1990.

These were early days in the NHS and many practices in Govan functioned out of converted premises in tenement properties. The Howie, Browning, MacKay practice in Elderpark Street was no exception in offering basic facilities. The surgery doors opened in the morning and the patients flooded in. There was no appointment system and the surgery lasted till the last patient was seen.

The afternoons were given over to home visits and the evening surgery followed the same pattern as the morning, starting at 6pm and often not finishing until after 9pm. The practice was responsible for its own out-of-hours service, which meant each doctor was on call at least one night and one weekend in three.

After Govan High School burned down in mysterious circumstances and the site of his old school became available, Dr MacKay recognised the inadequacies of the facilities for general practice in Govan and was a leader in ensuring that a modern health centre be built there.

Many Govan practices moved in to the centre and were then able to offer services in a modern purpose-built facility. His upbringing and background in Govan gave him deep insight into the circumstances of his patients and allowed him to empathise in a meaningful way. He built a large, loyal and appreciative following of patients until he retired in 1990.

In addition to his practice duties, he held a sessional appointment in geriatric medicine for 12 years and was a tutor in Glasgow University’s department of general practice. His skills in leadership and management became recognised, leading to his appointment to many national bodes.

He chaired the Glasgow Local Medical Committee for four years, was a member of the Scottish Medical Practice Committee for 12 years, for which he was chairman, and for six years was a member of the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

From 1973-1989 he was a member and then vice-chair of the Greater Glasgow Health Board, while also serving on the General Medical Council for many years. In 1986 he was awarded the OBE for services to medicine.

Throughout all of those endeavours he was ably supported by Tilly, his wife of 62 years. In the early years the life of the wife of a GP was arduous and demanding. The telephone had to be manned to receive emergency calls and this fell to his wife.

In addition there were the demands of family life and the bringing up of four children, the late Donald, Fiona, Sandra and Iain. All of this Tilly did without complaint and with great dedication. Theirs was a hospitable and welcoming home to which many can testify.

The children grew up and married and their spouses and nine grandchildren became part of the loving extended family. In recent years the arrival of their youngest grandson, Sacha, gave Papa John immense joy and special pleasure in his retirement.

Dr MacKay was fluent in Gaelic, the first language of his parents, and deeply interested in Gaelic culture and song, although by his own admission his musical limitations rendered it difficult for him to make the melodies sound tuneful.

When possible he also played the occasional game of golf, enjoyed fishing and in recent years took pleasure pottering in his greenhouse.

It is very hard when a parent is predeceased by one of their children.

The MacKays experienced this when their elder son Donald passed away at the age of 41 but this was borne with dignity and fortitude in the same way that Dr MacKay faced his declining health in recent years.

He is now at rest and his remains join those of Donald in Opinan in Wester Ross where for four decades the family enjoyed many happy holidays.