Roger McNeill

Roger McNeill (1853–1924) was a Scottish doctor of public health who was pivotal in bringing about changes to healthcare in the Highlands and Islands.

Early life Roger McNeill was born as Ruaraidh McNeill in 1853 in Ardskenish, on Colonsay, in the Inner Hebrides. His name was later anglicised to Roger. His father was Angus McNeill, a cattle herder and his mother, Angus's second wife, was Margaret Smith. having studied under notable medical figures such as Sir Joseph Lister, James Spence, surgeon and John Gray McKendrick, physiologist.

Early career McNeill's first job was in general practice in Levenshulme, near Manchester, but illness forced him to quit. He then became a ship's surgeon with the British-India Steam Navigation Company and in 1880 he was appointed as assistant medical officer to the Metropolitan Asylums Board in London. Soon afterwards, he was promoted to Resident Medical Officer of floating hospitals created from old warships docked at Greenwich and used to house patients during a severe smallpox epidemic. Using the hundreds of cases he saw here, he wrote his MD thesis for the University of Edinburgh entitled, "Diagnostic and prognostic value of the initial rashes of smallpox". For this, he received his MD with first class honours and a gold medal. Thomas Grainger Stewart, Physician to the Queen in Scotland, considered his research to be 'the best account with which he was acquainted of certain points in the clinical history of variola'.

Later career In 1912, the Dewar Committee, formally the Highlands and Islands Medical Service Committee, was appointed by Lloyd George, with Sir John Dewar as its chair. It was composed of nine members, including three doctors, and 'examined over 200 witnesses in more than 20 sessions, at more than 15 sites, over approximately six working weeks.'

As he had done before it, McNeill continued his work throughout and after World War I, and at his death in 1924, the Oban Times' obituary stated, 'Up to the last he was zealous and active in his appointed work...He was painstakingly accurate and conscientious in carrying out his public duties...He will be remembered as a pioneer and as an example to those who follow in his foot-steps.'

Death McNeill died of cancer, unmarried, on 16 April 1924, at the Queen Mary Nursing Home, Edinburgh.