Scottish GP whose innovations in patient care were adopted across the UK

Born: August 10, 1949;

Died: April 20, 2019

COLIN Hodgson, who has died aged 69, was a Scottish GP whose innovations were adopted across the UK. He designed his practice’s out-of-hours policy which many others copied and changed partners’ meetings to include the practice and district nurses, health visitors and receptionists.

Dr Hodgson also set up a measurement system to improve doctors' communication with patients and, working with Glasgow University and NHS Education Scotland (NES), set up video assessment, improved the training of new doctors and was in constant demand to train the trainers.

He also became a senior advisor to Argyll and Clyde Health Board and his processes and ideas were adopted throughout West Scotland, then NHS Scotland and in 1996, were adopted as UK policy. NES was then asked to deliver the policies in Dubai which Dr Hodgson led.

Dr Hodgson was the youngest medical undergraduate of modern times when he left Hutchesons’ to start his training at Glasgow University. He was an outstanding student but also such a good rugby player that he played for Hutchesons’ FP and HARFC 1st XV in four decades, 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and for Glasgow, including a famous win in the Borders.

These are amazing achievements but those who knew Dr Hodgson considered his achievements with and for people to be his greatest skill. His deep and abiding care for others was demonstrated in every consultation as a local GP in Paisley.

He felt he could do most good for most people as a GP and after a post-qualifying year in Canada in obstetrics he joined a practice in Paisley. His brain always identified right from wrong and his lifelong fight to achieve the best for others regardless of current rules or outdated conventions began.

But he was fun too. He loved the ridiculous. He won a bet during one of the major floods at Auldhouse rugby ground to swim across two pitches to the stand. He especially loved the fun of rugby tours but policed any activities that might damage or offend others. From university he brought the idea of a Christmas panto to Auldhouse, helping establish the club’s reputation for families not just players. He wrote, produced, directed and performed in the early pantomimes but typically, was ecstatic to welcome others to the writing team and see succeeding generations of members showcase the array of talent the panto uncovered.

He was always amongst the first to truly welcome new members; when the club went ‘open’, when it merged with St Aloysius and when people just arrived looking to join.

He was small, light and fast around the rugby pitch but like all great players had time and could read and anticipate the crucial times and situations in a game. Having played at the highest levels for Glasgow he continued long into his “retirement” from the 1st XV, playing for the lower teams where he brought his joy and camaraderie but also desire to teach and help youngsters.

Lesser players struggle to think rather than just react on the pitch and were often astonished when Colin Hodgson was executing a tackle or wrestling the ball, to hear his calm voice telling a youngster what they might find more effective next time. His strong beliefs in training youngsters extended beyond the pitch and he ensured they socialised with the opposition especially after a bad-tempered match.

Rugby and medicine were not his only passions. His children Keith and Rhona fondly remember family hill walks and their father's refusal to admit (even to himself) they were lost. He enjoyed cycling, skiing and sailing and took Keith to Ferguslie Cricket Club as a youngster which turned into a continuing commitment to involvement and assistance at the club which valued his willingness to help and welcome guests. As a keen Munro bagger he was a member of the Scottish Rights of Way Society for 30 years and Sustrans (who maintain bike paths).

He showed no pride in any of his achievements, indeed the rugby world thought he was “just” a doctor and the medics thought he “just” played rugby at weekends. His pride was in his family and Margie, whom he married in 1977, who supported all his many activities. His son Keith and daughter Rhona knew his pride in them and loved his happy welcome to their spouses Ríona and Freddie. He often visited his first grandchild Cora in Edinburgh and travelled with Margie to Australia to welcome and enjoy their new grandson but he died in Australia, peacefully of a heart attack in his sleep two weeks after the birth of baby Oscar.

Colin Hodgson is survived by Margie, son eith and granddaughter Cora, daughter Rhona and grandson Oscar, brother Gavin and was predeceased by his older sister Valerie.

DOUGLAS KINNAIRD