My friend Patrick Gallwey, who has died aged 84, was a psychoanalyst, prison doctor and forensic psychiatrist who developed particular expertise in treating those with criminal, sexually harmful and violent behaviour. He was an original thinker who inspired colleagues to persevere in their work with difficult and often dangerous offenders always with the goal of bringing about change.
His work as director of the South West Thames Regional Forensic Service for almost a decade from 1980 was particularly innovative in supporting other psychiatrists to set up local units. He believed that spreading specialist skills was healthier than restricting them to a regional unit.
Continue reading...