Ross Bailey was born in Christchurch: his father, John Brimfield Bailey, was a farmer and his mother was Frances Agnes (nee Dunford). He was educated at Christchurch Boys High School and Otago Medical School, graduating in 1964. His academic career was a distinguished one, and he gained medals and prizes in medicine, preventative and social medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology. On graduation he gained the Ardagh Memorial Prize for the Outstanding Medical Student of his year.

He returned to Christchurch Hospital to train in medicine and was persuaded by Dr Peter Little to take up nephrology as a career. He completed his nephrology training at Charing Cross Hospital, London, completing an MD on urinary tract infection. He spent a post-doctoral year in London, Ontario, before returning to Christchurch to join Peter Little as a nephrologist in 1972. Having developed an interest in renal transplantation, he started the renal transplant program in Christchurch with John Morton.

Ross continued to expand his area of clinical research to include the study of the natural history of reflux nephropathy. In collaboration with the radiologists and paediatricians at Christchurch Hospital, he contributed much to the understanding of the relationship between vesico-ureteric reflux, urinary tract infection and chronic atrophic pyelonephritis. His clinical acumen was superb and Ross did not tolerate fools. His red pen consults were a legend around the hospital. A typical example: 'Thank you for documenting this patient’s acute renal failure over the last five days; it is a pity you didn’t do something about it earlier.'

Ross was a great supporter of the New Zealand Medical Journal and preferentially sent papers to the Journal for publication. His first publication as a final year medical student was in the New Zealand Medical Journal, and 109 papers of his 303 publications in refereed journals appeared there. Ross was a vigorous opponent of the 'health reforms', writing letters to politicians and the local paper. His opposition to the reforms stemmed from his belief that patients had the right to the highest standard of free health care, and that patients should not be discriminated against on socio-economic grounds.

Ross Bailey’s contribution to nephrology was recognised internationally, and in 1993, he was the first New Zealander to be elected to the Council of the International Society of Nephrology. He was instrumental in enhancing and developing nephrological services in the Asia-Pacific region. He was keen to encourage young graduates to train in nephrology and hosted a number of international trainees in Christchurch. At the time of his death in Sri Lanka, Ross was working for the Asian commission for the Global Advancement of Nephrology.

As a young man he demonstrated his competitive nature in both sporting and academic arenas. This competitive nature became the hallmark of his career, and sport continued as a major interest throughout his life. Ross was a dedicated and competitive sportsman, playing hockey, cricket, tennis and golf. He represented the New Zealand Universities and Canterbury in hockey, and continued to play and coach hockey until his death. He was a keen cricketer and played for Christchurch Hospital Cricket Team for 30 years. His single-minded approach to many endeavours was exemplified by his attitude to leg before wicket (LBW) dismissals. Ross never accepted them as a batsman, and it was a brave or foolhardy umpire (or young doctor or student) who dared to give Ross out LBW.

In 1965, he had married Marion Lesley Butterfield. In his tragic death in a swimming accident in Sri Lanka, New Zealand lost one of its greatest nephrologists and physicians. He was survived by his wife Lesley and his four children.