Douglas Haldane Child Psychiatrist Who Believed That Family Dynamics Were Key

OBITUARIES Douglas Haldane Child psychiatrist who believed that family dynamics were key Douglas Haldane, child and family Haldane’s vision was a professional commu- physician superintendent at Stratheden Hospital. psychiatrist (b 1926; q Edinburgh, 1948), nity working together on behalf of the families. In 1976 he became a senior lecturer at Aberdeen died on 19 July 2012 from natural causes. For example, Haldane invited junior staff from University and honorary consultant psychiatrist to social work, social security, and housing depart- Grampian Health Board. In 1960 as consultant psychiatrist and deputy ments, and the hospital where these new units A founder member of the Grampian branch of physician superintendent at Stratheden Hospital, were based, to monthly the Association of Fam- Cupar, in Fife, Douglas Haldane, who has died meetings to report on ily Therapy in 1978, aged 86, established the department of child and families’ progress. The he chaired the Scottish family psychiatry. His vision at Playfield House, usual practice was to Marriage Council from Stratheden Hospital was to include families in tell senior staff of inno- 1984 to 1986 and was treating children with mental health problems. He vative projects, but by involved in the work was the first consultant to call it the department for involving people who of Marriage Counsel- child and family psychiatry, and he was the first had day to day contact ling Scotland in the and only psychiatrist to get the resources to pur- with families he was 1990s. In the 1980s pose build houses where whole families could be able to influence more he became a member admitted for treatment. broadly what kind of the advisory panel Haldane believed that a child’s mental health of support stressed of what is now the was deeply affected by family dynamics and found families needed. Social Tavistock Centre for that engaging with a child alone often had mini- workers would have Couple Relationships mal effect on wellbeing. Two residential units to the unusual experi- in London. In 1995 he enable work with the whole family were opened in ence of social security was awarded an MBE 1975. Haldane also encouraged sessions for par- staff alerting them to for his services to mar- ents, where the focus was on their relationship as a changes in the benefit riage counselling and couple. He believed that helping parents with their system that might sup- family therapy in Fife. dynamics as partners as opposed to parents would port families. have positive effects on the wellbeing of children. During his time at Haldane believed that a child’s Bodies of expertise Playfield House he was mental health was deeply affected Haldane’s clinical, Vision and influence appointed honorary lec- by family dynamics and found that teaching, and organisa- Haldane was much influenced by Donald Winni- turer in psychiatry at the engaging with a child alone often tional skills made a real cott and John Bowlby. The psychoanalyst and pae- University of Edinburgh had minimal effect on wellbeing difference to the work of diatrician Winnicott made a seminal contribution and contributed to the those he came into con- to the understanding of children’s development wellbeing of children through a range of local and tact with. He was not afraid to cross boundaries and what they need from their parents, particularly national appointments. He was also sought out as between disciplines. He helped to create bodies of through his radio programmes transmitted during an adviser by senior clergy in Ireland, who were expertise that continue to improve the lives of fami- the war enabling and encouraging young mothers then working with the Irish government to improve lies today. Perhaps this ability developed from his to be “good enough” rather than “perfect.” Winni- services for children and families. His advice was early years as a boy, with an extended and diverse cott influenced generations of social workers and well regarded by Bishop Eamon Casey of Kerry family much ravaged by the war, and in grief for helped them to understand and work with children (who established the homelessness charity Shel- lost loved ones. He took his responsibilities of and families. Though Haldane worked analytically ter in the UK) and Bishop Peter Birch of Kilkenny keeping the family connected seriously. with children and families he had never had a for- (a social reformer in his own diocese), but the Irish His vision for cooperation between professions mal analysis. When he met Winnicott he told him government took many more decades to update and the need for families to have the good things that he felt he had experienced an analysis with legislation for children and families from the in life—space, places to play, access to the finest of him at one remove, by reading all his books in the hangover of English legislation of the early years modern art, education, and creative skills, all of order they had been written. of the last century. which he made available at Playfield House—was Bowlby revolutionised child care in the 1960s, Born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Douglas Hal- surely influenced by long summers and visits to particularly drawing attention to the stress that dane was educated locally before attending his uncle and aunt at the home of John William children experience on being admitted to hos- Dumbarton and Dumfries Academies. He went to Buchanan-Jardine at Castlemilk in Dumfriesshire. pital even for short periods. Bowlby supported Edinburgh University in 1943, graduating MB ChB He was also sustained by the marriage he formed Haldane’s work and visited his department every in 1948. His positions after he qualified included with his wife, Kathleen, an artist, who died before year on his way north to spend his holidays on stints as an obstetrics house surgeon in Edinburgh him, and their family of three boys. Skye. Other big influences were the writings from and Dumfries. After national service as a surgeon Una McCluskey senior research fellow, University of York the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, an lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve he Christopher Clulow senior fellow, Tavistock Centre for institution specialising in institutional dynamics, worked as a registrar at the Royal Edinburgh Hos- Couple Relationships, London W1T 5PB established after the war and comprising many pital, lectured for the Royal College of Nursing, and [email protected] influential psychologists. was appointed consultant psychiatrist and deputy Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e6616 BMJ | 13 OCTOBER 2012 | VOLUME 345 33 OBITUARIES services for Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Service served in the Royal Army Medical Frank Webster Boon Manchester, Sheffield, and north Wales Corps. In 1946 he went to Kirksville were his responsibility, and he dealt College, Missouri, USA, qualifying as with adverse events in donors and a doctor of osteopathy (DO) in 1948. with donor complaints. His reviews on He returned to Glasgow and worked donation practices resulted in changes in private practice until his retirement to the regulations and guidelines for in 1997. Despite a disabling stroke in blood donation. Mark leaves his mother, 2001, which deprived him of the use Marion; two siblings; and six nieces and of his left arm and hand, his intellect Medicine’s president and publishing the nephews. was fully preserved, and he played empirical evidence for his approaches. Former general practitioner Marion Caines bridge and drove a modified car Eventually support came from orthodox Rotherham, South Yorkshire Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e6146 until his sudden death. Predeceased professional colleagues. His GP (b 1913; q Durham 1935), died from by two grandchildren he leaves “portfolio career” embraced many other metastatic cancer of the colon on Robert J Doig his wife, Maureen; two children; roles, and he won several awards. After 3 March 2012. two grandchildren; and four great retiring from general practice in 1975 After qualifying Frank Webster Boon grandchildren. to practise musculoskeletal medicine (“Dan”) worked at Lancaster Hospital Stuart G McAlpine privately, he ran instruction courses on and embarked on his career in general Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e6157 manipulation in the UK and international practice. He volunteered for the Royal workshops in Vienna. In retirement he Army Medical Corps and spent most Gordon H D McNaught converted a French barn and wrote of the war with the 8th Army in North books, before settling in Cambridge after Africa, Palestine, Sicily, and Italy, mainly Former consultant surgeon the death of his wife. John leaves two as a malariologist. Towards the end Hartlepool (b 1921; q Edinburgh sons and four daughters. of the war he was transferred back to Consultant psychiatrist (b 1930; 1944; FRCS ), d 31 October 2011. Robert M Berrington the UK and put in charge of a small q Aberdeen 1956; MD, MRCPsych), After qualifying Gordon H D McNaught Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e6147 military hospital near Wantage, where died from ischaemic heart disease enlisted in the navy and, after overseas he met Judith, whom he married three on 26 March 2012. postings, returned to civilian life, with the David Christian months later. After the war he bought Robert J Doig did his military service rank of surgeon lieutenant commander. Shepherd a rundown practice in Rotherham. mostly in Kenya and on demobilisation He transferred to the permanent Royal Predeceased by Judith, he leaves three enrolled in the medical faculty at Naval Volunteer Reserve in Edinburgh, sons, nine grandchildren, and six great Aberdeen University. He was awarded where he met Daphne, whom he grandchildren. his MD in 1973. After his junior hospital married in 1956. He was appointed Andrew Boon service in Aberdeen he worked in the senior surgical registrar in the Western Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e6150 American Hospital in Paris before settling General Hospital, then senior casualty in London to start his chosen career in officer in Carlisle, and then consultant Mark Oliver Butler psychiatry.

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