Tributes to 'trailblazer' doctor after death at 95

Dr Pauline Manfield helping to establish the paediatrics department at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield

Tributes have been paid to a "trailblazer" former doctor who has died at the age of 95.

Dr Pauline Manfield became one of the first female consultants in UK paediatrics, helping establish a department at the Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, with her colleague, staff nurse Eileen Cantrill.

After leaving the NHS in her 60s, devout Christian Dr Manfield became a lay reader and chaplain at Birmingham Cathedral where she served until she reached her late 80s.

University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said she "leaves behind a legacy defined by compassion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to service".

Dr Manfield was born in Worcester in 1929 and her early years were shaped by World War Two, especially the vivid memories of bombings during her time in Preston as a teenager.

Her family eventually settled in Chelmsford where she attended Chelmsford Girls' High School.

With an aspiration to become a doctor, she studied medicine at The Royal Free Hospital. She then went on to earn membership of the Royal College of Physicians in the 1960s before joining Good Hope.

In addition to her work with the NHS and Birmingham Cathedral, she was a member of Sutton Sisters, a local multi-faith group promoting understanding and unity.

Dr Manfield's early life was shaped by World War Two and had vivid memories of bombings in Preston from when she was a teenager

She was involved with a range of local groups, such as the Sutton Coldfield Archaeological and Gardening Societies, and the Lichfield Science and Engineering Society.

She also ran in the Sutton Coldfield Fun Run, enjoyed photography and travel, and was a regular at ballet shows and Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performances.

Dr Manfield also led efforts through the Sutton Coldfield Association of Women Graduates to sponsor young women in Malawi.

'Deep compassion'

"Her intelligence and warmth earned her early praise as 'clever, pretty and kind' – a description that would remain true throughout her long life," a spokesperson for the NHS Trust said.

"Pauline was known not only for her clinical excellence but also for the deep compassion she showed to patients and their families.

"Her impact was so significant that many former patients contributed to a special birthday book in her honour, filled with notes of gratitude and stories of lives touched by her care."

While she never married or had children, the spokesperson said "Pauline nurtured deep friendships and maintained connections with her schoolmates and colleagues".

"She was godmother to 12 children, and her home in Sutton Coldfield was a hub of hospitality, known for its garden parties, home-cooked meals, and walls lined with decades of photographs," the spokesperson continued.

"Pauline will be remembered as a trailblazer, a mentor, and a kind-hearted physician who gave her all to the people and causes she believed in."