Issue 15 Spring 2021 RCPsych INSIGHT International Congress goes virtual Contents COLLEGE NEWS IN BRIEF 4–5 Parity across the land Calls for parity between mental Dame Fiona Caldicott Get involved! and physical health in the Welsh and Scottish election campaigns remembered Looking to gain experience by getting under the CESR route and send more involved with the College? Our recommendations to the GMC regarding 6–7 College Centre for Quality Improvement individual applications for specialist Struggle for racial justice The College was greatly saddened to hear (CCQI) is recruiting peer reviewers, whose registration in psychiatry. There are Recognition of the work of of the death of Dame Fiona Caldicott on role is to assess services and help them openings for specialists from old age, eminent psychiatrist Dr Aggrey 15 February. Dame Fiona, who was the first improve the quality of care provided. As a child and adolescent, intellectual disability, Burke female Dean (1990–93) and then the first reviewer, you become part of a network of psychotherapy and forensic psychiatry, but female President of RCPsych (1993–96), was President’s clinicians sharing best practice, innovative applications from general adult 8–9 a “true pioneer”, whose “life was steeped in work and resources. psychiatrists would also be welcomed. Equality action public service”, says current President update Why the College’s Equality Dr Adrian James. There are also slots currently open Action Plan matters Dame Fiona achieved an extraordinary for Certificate of Eligibility of Specialist For further information, search ‘become amount in her career, latterly including her Registration (CESR) evaluators, whose a peer reviewer’ or ‘become a CESR Despite still having some way to 10–11 ground-breaking work on safeguarding patient role is to assess applications received evaluator’ at www.rcpsych.ac.uk go, we have begun the year with a Taking the long view information as the UK’s first National Data sense of optimism – the vaccine roll- Celebrations to mark the 180th Guardian for Health and Social Care. “She out is on track and we are starting to anniversary of the College was a beacon of hope and encouragement see the light at the end of the tunnel. to so very many,” says outgoing Dean Dr As a College, we have launched 12–13 Kate Lovett: “For women of my generation, our Equality Action Plan, the Vaccine preparation she paved the way for so many more of us to product of much reflection and reach our potential.” Practical steps to ensure hard work. This plan wouldn’t have vulnerable patients receive been possible without psychiatrists protection The next issue of Insight will feature a special tribute to Dame Fiona. Dame Fiona Caldicott like Dr Aggrey Burke recognising 14–15 inequalities and paving the way for Caring for the carers future generations to tackle racism Supporting the workforce head on. It is vital that we have clear through the current crisis and actions to help us achieve traction beyond and keep up momentum. It was with great sadness that I 16 heard of the death of Dame Fiona A question of quality Caldicott, a devoted public servant Professor Mike Crawford and the first female President of reflects on the work of CCQI Professor Subodh Dave Professor John Crichton RCPsych. We also recently lost Professor Julian Leff, a pioneer 17 in the treatment of schizophrenia End of term celebrations All change and a wise counsel to many. Reflections on the contributions Both played an important role of the College’s outgoing Dean in psychiatry and will be deeply and Treasurer Congratulations to Professor Subodh Professor Crichton garnered 35.2% in the missed. Dave and Professor John Crichton who first round for the Treasurer election, and Looking forward, we’ve recently 18–19 have been elected as the next Dean and won with 46% in the second round, over Prisons and the pandemic announced that among our keynote Treasurer of the College. Dr Lenny Cornwall, who received 43.6%. speakers at this year’s virtual A vulnerable population being Following the two well-contested elections Dr Anand Ramakrishnan also stood. International Congress are Chief hit hard by measures to control that closed in January, Professor Dave Professor Dave and Professor Crichton Medical Officer, Professor Chris the virus received 43% of votes in the first round will take up their posts in the summer, for the Dean election, finishing with 57% taking over from Dr Kate Lovett and Whitty, author and poet Michael 20 of the ballot once second preferences Dr Jan Falkowski respectively, and will Rosen, and Professor Prabha A Congress like no other were counted. Dr Chris O’Loughlin came serve five-year terms. The enormous Chandra. This will be a great What to expect from RCPsych’s in second with 33% of the vote. Professor contributions of Dr Lovett and opportunity to reflect on the past first virtual International Nandini Chakraborty and Dr John Russell Dr Falkowski are celebrated on page 17 year and I look forward to seeing Congress Celebrating 180 years of the College in all its guises on pages 10–11 also stood. of this issue of Insight. you all there. Dr Adrian James Editors: Gemma Mulreany, Tamasin Cave, Rebecca Couper and Kim Catcheside Design: Lee Braithwaite Clinical Editors: Dr Tony Rao and Dr Santosh Mudholkar Illustration: Owen Davey (front cover), Kipper Williams (p2) and Owen Gent (p18–19) Writers: Colin Richardson (p4–5 and 18–19), Dr Samara Linton (p6–7), Tamasin Cave (p8–9, 10–11 and 17), Photography: Grainge Photography, Horst Friedrichs and Harvey Mills 2 Radhika Holmström (p12–13), Claire Read (p14–15), Rebecca Harrington (p16) and Katie Newton (p20) 3 POLICY FEATURE Your Insight To send us your insights, email [email protected] or tweet using #RCPsychInsight Your comments on Insight issue 14: at the heart of their proposals. agenda and I’ve always felt it lost out The Welsh manifesto, entitled to physical health. So, for the whole Good mental health for Wales, calls five years, the health committee has Responding to Centred on jobs, for “a sea change in the way mental insisted that we consider mental an interview with RCPsych health is prioritised and funded in health alongside physical health.” Registrar Dr Trudi Seneviratne on Wales”. Spending on mental health He points to a raft of inquiries unemployment and mental health: services per head of the population carried out by the committee into, in Wales is lower than in the other among other things, loneliness and #RCPsychInsight @TrudiSene1 devolved nations. RCPsych is isolation, suicide prevention and the is clear that she would like to see pressing the Welsh government use of anti-psychotic medication in more focus on public mental health to ensure that spending on mental care homes. The committee’s latest and prevention. Psychiatrists need health and learning disability services report, on the impact of COVID-19 on to be part of conversations around is increased to at least 13% of its mental health, is currently awaiting a prevention. We save life, we can’t overall budget. response from the Welsh government. prevent MH conditions totally, but It is also calling for wellbeing to Both Dr Fergus and Dr Lloyd agree definitely there are things to be done. be “the principal aim of the budget”, that progress has been made in Dr Manal El-Maraghy along the lines of New Zealand’s recent years, with increases in funding Wellbeing Budget introduced in May for mental health services and greater 2019. The idea is that all departments awareness. Last autumn, the Welsh of government make wellbeing their government created a new cabinet top priority when making spending post, that of Minister for Mental Health Responding to the Help at the end decisions. and Wellbeing, a development Dr article on palliative care psychiatry: ”There’s a strong feeling within Fergus welcomes as “very positive Welsh Senedd Health Committee Chair, Dr Dai Lloyd of Plaid Cymru mental health services that a news”. RCPsych recently met with Delighted to see this article on wellbeing budget would work very the minister and had “a very helpful psychiatry at the end of life by well,” says Dr Katie Fergus, a conversation, which, we hope, marks #RCPsychInsight. Some services rehabilitation psychiatrist based in the start of a constructive dialogue.” in England already well established. Cardiff and RCPsych’s policy lead in Dr Lloyd credits the work of his Clear from research that there is a Wales. It’s a view that seems to be committee for the advances that have huge unmet need. How can we start Parity across the land widely shared. “We’ve met with all been made, “though I would say that this conversation in Scotland? the major political parties to discuss wouldn’t I?” He concedes that the @RCPsychScot the manifesto,” says Dr Fergus, “and Health Minister may have played a Dr Darragh Hamilton it’s been very well received.” part, which is high praise from an Insight into RCPsych’s campaign for parity in Wales The manifesto is the latest in a opposition politician. ahead of May’s Senedd and Scottish Parliament long line of interventions made by Dr Fergus pays testament to the RCPsych in Wales. “We enjoy a very work that the College has been doing elections. good relationship with the Welsh in raising its profile and its voice to Responding to the Meeting in Government,” says Dr Fergus, citing advocate for the needs of people Bethlehem article on RCPsych- regular discussions, as well as with mental health problems. She is supported Palestinian trainees: requests for presentations on a wide confident that RCPsych’s influence range of issues.