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27 Mar 2026
Charles Polkey: neurosurgeon and pioneer of the surgical treatment of epilepsy
When the powers that be at King’s College Hospital told neurosurgeon Charles Polkey that it had decided to name a ward after him he was initially reluctant to accept the honour. He only relented after his wife, Maureen, told him he should do so as he had devoted his life to the hospital. Polkey also reasoned that the recognition would highlight the good work of the unit to which he had been so dedicated.
Polkey’s reserve was characteristic of a man who colleagues described as humble and quietly self-assured; while his work was internationally recognised, he had little ego or vanity.