Charles Polkey

We are sorry to announce the death of our friend and colleague, Professor Charles Polkey who passed away on the 8th December 2025. He was 87. Prof Polkey was widely respected and admired for his expertise in the field of Epilepsy Surgery, not just at Kings College and Maudsley Hospitals, but nationally and internationally.

Prof Polkey was born in 1937 and completed his Medical studies from the University of Bristol, where he was awarded the Surgical Gold Medal. An interest in Neurophysiology moulded his career as a Neurosurgeon. After completing his surgical training, he was appointed as the successor to Mr Murray Falconer, at the Maudsley Hospital. With Professor Colin Binnie, he was responsible for developing the Maudsley neurosurgical unit as a leading centre for Epilepsy surgery. He and Prof Binnie were also jointly Chairs of the ILAE Commission on Epilepsy Surgery. He was also very interested in Functional Neurosurgery helping patients with movement disorders as well as epilepsy and undertaking some of the first DBS implants in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. He published over 150 scientific papers between 1966 and 2022. In recognition of his work, he was awarded a personal Chair at Kings’ College Hospital where a ward is also named after him.

Professor Polkey was an inspiration to colleagues in the epilepsy surgery programme, both trainees and established clinicians; not just to the neurosurgical team, but to neurologists, paediatric neurologists and neurophysiologists, who valued his calm, thoughtful approach, allied with his limitless academic knowledge and ongoing interest in innovation. He continued to provide mentorship and support, teaching until the age of 75, many years after he stopped operating. Above all he will be remembered for his endless kindness and warmth alongside his quiet excellence. He was predeceased by Maureen, his wife of 57 years and is survived by his son Professor Michael Polkey, a Respiratory Physician and his daughter, Dr Anne Polkey, a General Practitioner, and three grandchildren.