Following the lessons learned from the Bristol heart surgery scandal of the 1990s, the Bristol Children’s hospital set out to recruit outstanding children’s cardiac anaesthetists. One of these was my friend Guy Bayley, trained in both paediatrics and anaesthetics, and possessed of an infectious smile, patience and empathy. Following a short depressive illness and a rare side-effect of antidepressants he has taken his own life at the age of 55.
Born in Wolverhampton, and a lifelong Wolves supporter, Guy was the son of Liz Langford, a farmer, and Trevor Bayley, a physician. Educated at Holmwood school and then Merchant Taylors’, Crosby, Guy trained at St Thomas’ hospital, London, where he was known as the “Silver Fox” due to his sharp intellect, prematurely grey hair and short stature. As a rugby player he was scrum-half for the St Thomas’ team for five years, captaining them to victory in the London University Cup and National Medical School Sevens.
After qualifying in 1989, Guy worked as a paediatrician at Bristol Children’s, Great Ormond Street, St Thomas’ and Guy’s hospitals in London and Melbourne Children’s hospital, in Australia. He then switched to children’s anaesthetics, working at Great Ormond Street, Bristol and Melbourne, and went on to specialise anaesthetising children for heart operations, joining Bristol in this capacity in 2007.
An expert in difficult airways management and acute pain, he published many papers. He took a lead role in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic at the hospital.
In 2001 he married Kate Townshend, and they had four daughters, Lucia, Mollie, Inca and Skye. While they were young he worked part-time, and he was happiest at home in their company in Bath or surfing with them in Cornwall.
Able to laugh at himself, he loved to dance and party in fancy dress. He was a great listener, not only to children and their parents but also to colleagues and friends, and was often seen chatting in the corridors to hospital porters: he provided general support to a huge cross-section of the hospital staff.
His death came as an unexpected shock to everyone. He is survived by Kate, his daughters, and his siblings Victoria, Kate, George and Robin.
