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Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Professorship of Psychiatry

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Department of Psychiatry is widely recognized as having international standing in several principal areas within the field of psychiatry, including the cognitive, neuropsychological, and genetic aspects of affective disorders, the epidemiology of dementia, and cognitive neuroscience. As a result of its close links with Addenbrooke's Hospital, the Department of Psychiatry plays an important role in the postgraduate and professional training of junior psychiatrists, including research supervision, and in the organization of specialist registrar training programmes. It is also anticipated that the requirement for the teaching of psychiatry through all phases of the clinical medical course will continue to grow.

2. A Professorship of Psychiatry was established in the University in 1976 (Reporter, 1975-76, p. 308). The present holder of the Professorship, Professor E.S. Paykel, is due to retire on 30 September 2001. The Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine have reviewed the position of the Professorship and related matters in the light of Professor Paykel's forthcoming retirement. They have concluded that, in the light of the priority given by the Government to mental health and the development of a National Service Framework for Mental Health, there is a demonstrable need for the Professor of Psychiatry to be involved in advising on policy which will have long-term implications within the Addenbrooke's NHS Trust and, more widely, within the NHS as a whole. The Faculty Board therefore consider that it would be in the best interests of the University, as well as the National Health Service, if the next Professor of Psychiatry could be appointed in advance of Professor Paykel's retirement. Accordingly, the Faculty Board have proposed the establishment of a new Professorship of Psychiatry from 1 October 2000, on condition that the existing Professorship of Psychiatry (1976) is suppressed on Professor Paykel's retirement on 30 September 2001.

3. The General Board have accepted the proposal made by the Faculty Board, which also has the support of Professor Paykel and the Addenbrooke's NHS Trust. The full costs of the office will be met from funds made available from the NHS Consortium Academic Posts Budget from 1 October 2000 to 31 September 2001 and thereafter from funds released by the suppression of the Professorship of Psychiatry (1976) on the retirement of Professor Paykel. The General Board are assured that suitable accommodation for the Professor is available and that the necessary support and facilities can be provided. The Addenbrooke's NHS Trust have agreed to provide access to beds and clinical facilities and to award an Honorary NHS Consultant contract to the Professor. The Board are assured that an appointment at this level will attract a strong field of well-qualified candidates.

4. The General Board accordingly propose that a Professorship of Psychiatry be established in the University from 1 October 2000 and assigned to the Department of Psychiatry. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine that the election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors, and that candidature should be open without limitation or preference to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.

5. The General Board recommend:

I. That a Professorship of Psychiatry be established with effect from 1 October 2000, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Psychiatry.

II. That the Professorship of Psychiatry (1976) in the Department of Psychiatry, held by Professor E.S. Paykel, be suppressed on his retirement on 30 September 2001.

9 February 2000

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Cambridge University Reporter, 1 March 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.