Obituary

Frank Fagan 1937 – 2012

If you received ambulance training between 1970 and 1992 in Ireland Frank Fagan was probably involved in your training. He was a first in many ways for pre-hospital emergency care training in Ireland. From his early days in the Army Medical Corps right up to his retirement in the National Ambulance Training School his enthusiasm was infectious. He sadly passed away on 30th November last year.

Frank Fagan began his pre-hospital emergency care career in the army medical corps (AMC) of the Irish Defence Forces. He served overseas in the Congo with the first Irish troops to be deployed on a UN peace keeping mission. Frank, while still serving in the AMC, was a student on the first ever ambulance training course in Ireland in 1967. His ability as an instructor was recognised both within the medical corps and the ambulance service. The basic ambulance training course, in the initial years, was run by the Department of Health and Frank was seconded from the AMC for the duration of the courses. Frank was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major in charge of the depot army medical corps in the mid seventies.  He was de facto in charge of all pre-hospital emergency care training for the Irish Defence Forces.

The secondment arrangements for each basic ambulance training course continued until the opening of the National Ambulance Training School in 1986. Frank hung up his green uniform and donned the blue uniform in 1986 when appointed one of two ambulance aid instructors in the National Ambulance Training School, another first. Frank was responsible for training thousands of ambulance personnel from both the health board ambulance services and Dublin Fire Brigade in his long involvement in this training. Frank had a unique style, always accentuating the positive about his students. When continuous assessment was introduced he had difficulty writing anything that would be interpreted as a criticism of a student. Frank’s contribution to pre-hospital emergency care training in Ireland is exemplary. Frank was a great fan of Slim Whitman, and was known to give a verse or two (including yodelling) at the end of course parties.

Frank was forced to retire early in 1992 due to health reasons. He lived with his wife Molly in Newbridge Co. Kildare. Ar dheis Dé to raibh a anam dílis.

Brian Power