Hamish McAllister-Williams
I undertook by medical training in Edinburgh where I also obtained an intercalated degree (1st Class) in Pharmacology and a PhD in Neuropharmacology. After core Psychiatry training in Edinburgh and Lothian, I obtained MRCPsych and moved to Newcastle University in 1995 as a Clinical Lecturer, obtaining an MD in Psychopharmacology and completing higher specialist training. I was appointed a Reader in Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2004.
I have held an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist contract with Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust since 1999. I am the lead consultant in the tertiary level Regional Affective Disorders Service based in Newcastle. This is the oldest and one of the largest such service in the UK providing outpatient and inpatient services for patients with complex and treatment refractory mood disorders. Referrals to the service are received from psychiatrist in secondary care from across the UK. The Service also sees health care professionals with mood disorders for whom being seen within their own local secondary care service would be difficult.
My research focuses on the pathophysiology and treatment of both bipolar and unipolar affective disorders. I am a past General Secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) and was appointed in 2012 as the BAP Director of Education. I am a major contributor to their CPD programme and have been involved in the production of a number of BAP clinical guidelines. I am also an appointed member of the Royal College of Psychiatrist Psychopharmacology Committee. In both my RCPsych and BAP roles I have provided input to NICE guidelines. I have published in excess of 150 journal papers, reviews, book chapters and conference abstracts.
