Emeritus Consultants Biographies

Richard Stephen W. BRUCE University of London MB BS (Lond) 1966 FFARCS (Lond) 1971 FRARACS 1977. FRCA 1992 FANZCA 1992 Consultant Anaesthetist

Richard Bruce was born in Gloucester, England in August 1942 the son of Robert Richard F. Bruce, a senior lecturer in music at Cardiff University and Beatrice (nee) Tomboline, a registered nurse.  He received his early education at St Neot's Preparatory School, followed by Rugby School going onto Middlesex Hospital, London to study medicine, graduating in 1966.

His house officer terms were spent at Cheltenham and Gloucester hospitals for two years.

He started Anaesthesia training in 1968 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.  After a locum at Norwich moved to Cardiff, gaining his Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthesia Royal College of Surgeons in 1971.

Richard with his second wife Kay emigrated to Western Australia in January 1971, and was appointed a Senior Registrar in Anaesthesia at the Royal Perth Hospital becoming Consultant Anaesthetist in March 1973.  He served the Hospital as a full time anaesthetist until retiring in January 2001 when he was appointed Emeritus Consultant Anaesthetist.

During his career at the Royal Perth Hospital he was appointed Chairman and Head of the Anaesthesia Department from 1985 to 1996 and became very involved with hospital administration.  This included secondment to medical administration for a period of nine months in 1994.  He chaired the Division of Surgery, Medical Advisory Committee and Infectious Control Committee during his time as head of Anaesthesia and was a member of the Royal Perth Hospital Board from 1992 to 1995 when the Board was ended.

Richard was a member of the W. A. Regional Committee of the Faculty of Anaesthetists for seven years, chairing it for three years, and was a member of the Statewide Anaesthetic Mortality Committee for seven years.  He was a founder member of the Statewide Reference Group which liaised on anaesthesia practice between general practitioners and specialists, and was a surveyor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards for 10 years.

He had a major role in the establishment of the Acute Pain Service and has specialized in major burns anaesthesia and the management of difficult airways.

Richard has a daughter from his first marriage to Frances. His wife Pauline is a trained nurse.  He is a keen gardener, photographer and cabinet maker with a love of music and good food.