General and Liaison Psychiatry Unit

The Department of Medical Psychiatry at The Princess Grace Hospital is led by Professor Gerald Libby, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Professor David Silk, Consultant Physician. Together with a Clinical Research Fellow, a Clinical Psychologist and experienced nurses they have developed a multidisciplinary team, with additional input from physiotherapists and a dietician as required. Benefiting from collaboration with all medical specialties, the Department is able to provide intensive treatment for those with acute psychiatric disorders who would otherwise be unsuitable for treatment in a general psychiatric hospital and those with complex co-morbid conditions. In addition to private medical insurance, funding arrangements have been made with NHS Primary Care Trusts and embassies for international patients, on a case by case basis.

Department Contact: Sister Katrina Johnson: 020 7908 2476

Introduction to the Department

This specialized unit at the Princess Grace hospital has a team of consultant psychiatrists, consultant physician, clinical research fellow and a clinical psychologist working in a multi-disciplinary way with a highly skilled and experienced nursing team, physiotherapists and dietician.

The department has the benefit of collaboration with the entire range of medical specialties particularly neurogastroenterology, neurology and cardiology. Visiting specialists provide the expertise needed for comprehensive multidisciplinary patient care. The uniqueness of this department in the independent sector and its progress from early development is due to its provision of intensive one to one treatment with patients with complex co-morbid conditions and those patients who present with acute psychiatric disorders but who may be unsuited for treatment in a stand alone psychiatric hospital. The general medical and surgical environment is ideal for the treatment of people with co-morbid problems. The focus is on individualized care with no group activities. The treatment range might include pharmacotherapy and CBT. ECT may be recommended in special circumstances and the Department has been accredited as a centre of Excellence by the ECT Accreditation Services.

The unit is inappropriate for who patients who might require treatment under the Mental Health Act, but in such situations a transfer may be arranged to professional teams at The Capio Nightingale, The Priory Hospital or a hospital in the NHS.

Whilst the majority of patients are admitted with acute conditions frequently patients with co-morbid medical conditions are admitted after failed treatment at other units and in this respect the department acts as a tertiary referral centers.

Patients must be referred by general practitioners and medical specialists. Funding sources include private medical insurance, International embassies, patients self funding and the NHS Primary Care Trusts.

The Multidisciplinary Team

Consultant Psychiatrists

• Professor Gerald W Libby FRCP FRCPsych – Lead Clinician
• Dr Justin Basquille MRCPsych
• Dr Sherine Mikhail BSc MBBS MRCPsych Dip.Criminol
• Dr Irshaad Ebrahim MSc MRCPsych

Consultant Physician

• Professor DBA Silk MD FRCP

Visiting Consultant Psychiatrists

• Dr William Shanahan FRCPsych
• Dr Claire Capstick FRCPsych

Clinical Research Fellowship

The department appoints a clinical research fellow who is actively engaged in clinical research and audit. This forms a core part of the department’s emphasis on evidence-based practice and our goal of adding to the knowledge base of liaison psychiatry. The minimum qualification required for entry into this post is membership of The Royal College of Psychiatrists

24 hour Medical Cover

24 hour cover is provided by a team of experienced specialized Psychiatric registrars, sourced from London’s teaching hospitals, who contribute substantially to the clinical and academic standards of the team and are mentored by the Clinicians.

• Dr Julius H Bourke MBBS MRCPsych
• Dr Claude Botha MB ChB MRCPsych
• Dr Zaza Darwiche MBBS MRCPsych

Head of Psychological Services

• Dr Jennifer Gomborone BA MSc PhD

Nursing Team

• Department Sister - Katrina Johnson RCpN PG Dip

The nursing team is made-up of a consistent, experienced and highly motivated group. In conjunction with the medical team it provides nursing care that is sensitive, individualized and solution focused. The team is led by the Departmental Sister. Many of our staff are dual trained and are therefore in a unique position to offer integrated liaison care. This wealth of training and experience supports the multidisciplinary approach.

Allied Health Professionals

• Physiotherapists
• Dietician
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Occupational Therapist

You can Contact The Princess Grace at any time , via our contact form.