Herbert Barrie

Herbert Barrie (9 October 1927 – 20 March 2017), was a British consultant paediatrician and a leading figure in neonatology.

This was a time of rapid medical advances, particularly in respiratory support, that were at last making the survival of premature newborn babies a reality.

The tubes were originally made of rubber, but these had the potential to cause irritation to sensitive newborn tracheas: Barrie switched to plastic, which was fashioned from a pre-cut roll and so had an inherent curvature.

[1] At Charing Cross, Barrie continued his ground-breaking and pioneering work in the care of the preterm infant.

Putting Tiny Patients First [3], a book edited and compiled by his son, describing Herbert Barrie's early life and his time in paediatrics, was published in 2018.