Robert Roland Hughes
Encyclopedia
Robert Roland Hughes MB ChB MD FRCP
(1911 - 1991) was a British
neurologist
and pioneer of Electroencephalography
and neurology
. He studied medicine at Liverpool University and spent the bulk of his life as a consultant
in the Liverpool
and North Wales area, particularly in the Liverpool Royal Infirmary
.
Hughes began his career as an apprectice printer in his father's business, and entered medicine somewhat later than was usual. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
during World War II
, rising to the rank of Major, during which time he was instrumental in setting up the Allied
field hospital at D-Day
.
He took up a post in under Lord Cohen
at the Royal Southern Hospital after being demobilised. He also worked at Walton Neurological Unit, Clatterbridge, HM Stanley and Boddelwyddan. Dr Hughes wrote the landmark book An introduction to clinical electro-encephalography (1961) which is used as a textbook and authority on the subject. As his reputation became established, he did a substantial amount of work as a private medico-legal consultant.
Dr Hughes' son, Dr Simon H C Hughes, is a medical physicist
whose work on CT
and MRI scanners helped reduce their cost, making such equipment more available and widespread.
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(1911 - 1991) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
neurologist
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
and pioneer of Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain...
and neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
. He studied medicine at Liverpool University and spent the bulk of his life as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
in the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and North Wales area, particularly in the Liverpool Royal Infirmary
Liverpool Infirmary
Liverpool Infirmary was founded in 1743, took 6 years to build, and was opened by the Earl of Derby on March 25, 1749. The first Infirmary stood on the site of the present day St George's Hall, and cost £2,600 to build. It was expanded in 1771....
.
Hughes began his career as an apprectice printer in his father's business, and entered medicine somewhat later than was usual. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, rising to the rank of Major, during which time he was instrumental in setting up the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
field hospital at D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
He took up a post in under Lord Cohen
Henry Cohen, 1st Baron Cohen of Birkenhead
Henry Cohen, 1st Baron Cohen of Birkenhead CH, FRCP was a British physician, doctor and lecturer. He was famous for his Harveian Oration at the Royal College of Physicians in 1970, on the motion of blood in the veins....
at the Royal Southern Hospital after being demobilised. He also worked at Walton Neurological Unit, Clatterbridge, HM Stanley and Boddelwyddan. Dr Hughes wrote the landmark book An introduction to clinical electro-encephalography (1961) which is used as a textbook and authority on the subject. As his reputation became established, he did a substantial amount of work as a private medico-legal consultant.
Dr Hughes' son, Dr Simon H C Hughes, is a medical physicist
Medical physics
Medical physics is the application of physics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy, although a medical physicist may also work in many other areas of healthcare...
whose work on CT
Computed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
and MRI scanners helped reduce their cost, making such equipment more available and widespread.