Biography:

Qualifications

I am a medical graduate of the University of London (Imperial College) where I qualified as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1999. I obtained Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2006.

Clinical training and experience

I joined the Royal Navy in 1997 as a Medical Cadet. After completing medical training and Pre-registration House Officer posts, I served as a General Duties Medical Officer in the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service.

My general professional training in psychiatry was as a Senior House Officer in Southampton from 2003 to 2007 and I undertook higher training as a Specialist Trainee in General Adult Psychiatry from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 I was Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for the Department of Community Mental Health at HMS DRAKE in Plymouth. From 2014 to 2021 I was Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead at HMS NEPTUNE in Helensburgh. These departments are a Ministry of Defence service provided for the assessment and treatment of mental health difficulties in service personnel. The service sees a significant number of cases covering a wide range of mental disorders, but is characterised primarily by alcohol use disorders, mood disorders, neurotic disorders, including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and occupational stress issues.  

Most recently I have retained Consultant Psychiatrist activity but am now responsible for the redesign of Defence Mental Health Services.

In addition to this work, I held a private practice at the Nuffield Hospital, Plymouth, from 2012 to 2014 where I saw patients from a wider demographic background for assessment and treatment. This work includes consulting on occupational mental health issues for a number of local employers including Devon and Cornwall Police.

Since November 2020 I have provided medicolegal reports in my specialist area of General Adult Psychiatry. I conduct approximately 105 cases per year with approximately 85% of these being pursuer cases.

I have received additional specialist training in the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing for the treatment of traumatic stress and currently practice this under supervision. I have been qualified under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007) since 2007. I have also received training in the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003.

I have received additional training from the Royal College of Psychiatrists on acting as an expert witness and have read widely on this subject maintaining my knowledge and experience. More recently in Spring 2022 I have completed training with the Expert Witness Institute and went through an accreditation process with them becoming a Certified Expert Witness.

Research and Publications

I am the co-author of a paper on the management of Post-traumatic Stress Reactions, and also on the assessment of capacity in patients requiring surgery for hip fractures. I am the lead author for a paper providing alcohol treatment guidance for service patients. My current research areas include occupational effects of mental health disorders, with ongoing research into the occupational mental health effects of service in the Armed Forces.

Clinical Interests:

General Adult Psychiatry

Occupational Psychiatry

PTSD, Depression, Anxiety