Geoff Durbin obituary

My husband, Dr Geoff Durbin, who has died aged 78, was a consultant neonatologist whose early research was one of the crucial steps in improving the treatment of babies with breathing difficulties.

In 1973 he became a research fellow in Sir Osmund Reynolds’s team at University College London (UCL), one of the early pioneers of intensive care for babies. Geoff was at the heart of this work from the very start, undertaking research into continuous positive airway pressure (Cpap) therapy, and on identifying the risk factors associated with bleeding into the brain.

In 1977, Geoff moved to Birmingham, initially as a lecturer and then in 1980 as the first full-time neonatologist at the Birmingham maternity hospital. He set about developing the unit offering, for the first time, life-sustaining support for babies.

He was passionate about research, particularly into intestinal function and the nature, progression and long-term effects of brain injury using the then new tool of ultrasound scanning. He was an early advocate of the use of Cpap, breast milk, pulse oximetry, caffeine as a respiratory stimulant and neurodevelopmental follow-up – now international standards of newborn care.

Geoff’s focus was always on the best outcome for babies, recognising that there were some that intensive care could not help. He worked equally hard to ensure these babies and their parents received the highest-quality support. Geoff had very high standards for himself and others and he was an inspirational teacher. His commitment to the babies was absolute.

In 2007, Geoff retired from clinical practice, taking on medicolegal work, always on the side of the families and children. He remained in Birmingham, and became a much more active member of the Labour party.

The son of Marjorie (nee green) and Evan Durbin, Geoff was born in Oxford into a household steeped in socialism. His motherworked for the London county council. She had studied at LSE under Hugh Gaitskell, who introduced her to Evan, an academic economist who became Labour MP for Edmonton and served in Clement Attlee’s government until his early death in 1948, when Geoff was three years old.

Evan’s parliamentary colleagues arranged for Geoff to be educated at Bryanston school in Dorset. He studied medicine at New College, Oxford, completing his clinical training at UCL and qualifying in 1969.

Geoff and I met in about 1977 when we were both working as paediatricians; we got together in 1987 and were married in 1994. Geoff was funny, entertaining, and loved good food, fine wine, walking, skiing and travelling. He was devoted to his family. His illness – Alzheimer’s disease – was particularly cruel, taking away the very things he excelled at and lived for.

Geoff is survived by me, and our children Isabel and Jonathan, by two children, Sarah and Lindsey, from his first marriage, to Gill Page, which ended in divorce, and by his grandchildren, Meredith, Patrick, Thomas and Marcus, and his sister Jos.