Dr Beth McCausland named foundation doctor of the year by Royal College of Psychiatrists

Dr Beth McCausland, one of the dementia care experts at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, has been named foundation doctor of the year by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP).

She has been based in the medicine for older people (MOP) department at Southampton General Hospital for the past two years.

Dr McCausland completed an assessment of specialist dementia care wards in acute hospital trusts nationwide before working with colleagues on the development of the UHS dementia strategy for 2018 to 2021.

The document aims to ensure all staff receive appropriate training to develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed.

UHS has around 250 to 300 patients admitted with dementia at any one time and in 2017, opened a pioneering enhanced dementia care ward (G7) – the first of its kind in the UK.

Dr McCausland works with Dr Victoria Osman-Hicks, a consultant in older people’s mental health and dementia lead in MOP.

She said: “Beth is an exceptional doctor and is fully deserving of this prestigious national honour.

“She is kind and empathic with patients and is making a big difference by leading research and quality improvement initiatives in medicine for older people and patients with dementia.”

The RCP judging panel said of Dr McCausland: “She has clear dedication to her patients and developing innovative projects to ensure quality and development in the future.

“She has become a role model for her peers and medical students and is an asset to her trust.

“She represents the values of a compassionate and empathetic doctor.”