Psychiatry Department

The Department of Anaesthesia has been an integral part of the Hospital since inception in 1958. The Department has been responsible for the provision of Anaesthesia to patients. Anaesthetists also work as intensive care physicians who provide care to patients that are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. At the onset, the Department was called the Anaesthetics Department. At the time, there was a shortage of Consultant Anaesthetists within the Hospital to which end a number of British Anaesthetists were offered contract appointments. These individuals included Dr. V. Fowler, and Dr. D.J. Walters, both of whom were on contract appointments between 1960 and 1964. In addition, Dr. Ronald S. Lambie was seconded to Nigeria in 1965 under the auspices of External Aids, Canada.
In 1966, a separate academic Department of Anaesthesia was created under the Headship of Prof. L.M. Beckham (M.D.). During his tenure as Head of Department, Dr. Beckham initiated many laudable programmes including the overseas recruitment of Anaesthetists and the training of local (Nigerian) doctors in the specialty of Anaesthesia before the commencement of the fellowship training. On the 30th of June, 1971, Prof. S.A. Oduntan succeeded Prof. L.M. Beckham as the substantive Head of Department.
The first head of the Anaesthesia Department was Dr. Phyllis M. Edwards who became the Head of Department on the 1st of April, 1959. Below is a comprehensive list of the Heads of the Anaesthesia Departments from inception till date.