Personal Profile

I am a substantive Consultant Psychiatrist with Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Partnership Trust. I work as a psychiatrist on an inpatient ward, treating older people with depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and dementia. In addition to my NHS practice I hold a private practice clinic in Stratford-upon-Avon, along with private video consultations.

My specialist skills are particularly suited to the treatment of older people with mental health problems including dementia as I have significant experience in neuropsychological assessment and neuroimaging. In addition, having worked as a liaison psychiatrist, I have skills in assessing and managing the interaction of mental illness with physical illness. Although my main NHS role is with older people, I am also very experienced in treating younger people, and am able to accept referrals for anyone over the age of 18 who has mental health problems. I also have significant experience in the legal assessment of capacity and I accept referrals for capacity assessments, for example Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection assessments.

I qualified with a medical degree from Dundee University in 1996. I began training in psychiatry in 1998, initially in the Midlands before moving to the North East of England. In 2004 I began Specialist Training in Old Age Psychiatry in Newcastle, world renowned for its research in dementia. Upon gaining my CCST in Old Age Psychiatry in 2007, I worked as a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry in Sunderland until relocating to South Warwickshire in late 2010. I then worked as a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry until 2014, when I became a Liaison Psychiatrist (working into 3 local hospitals) before taking up my current post in 2016.

I have an interest in teaching and training medical students and trainee psychiatrists. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. I was previously College Tutor in Sunderland and am currently College Tutor in South Warwickshire. In addition I am actively involved in research. I have been Principal Investigator in a number of national and international multicentre randomised controlled trials of treatments in dementia. To assist this work I have previously been supported by grants by the Comprehensive Local Research Network.

I am a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and I am entered on the GMC Specialist Register as an Old Age Psychiatrist.