Dr Adrian James
Former President, RCPsych
Adrian was elected President in 2020 and led the RCPsych on behalf of its members and associates. He held this role until 11 July 2023 where he was succeeded by Dr Lade Smith CBE.
Adrian is Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, Devon. He is a former Medical Director of Devon Partnership NHS Trust and founding Chair of the School of Psychiatry at the Peninsular Deanery (2006-2008).
He was the elected Chair of the South West Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2007-2011) and sat on the College Council in this capacity. In 2010 he was appointed Chair of the Westminster Parliamentary Liaison Committee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (attending the three main Party Conferences 2011-14 in this capacity).
He was Clinical Director for Mental Health, Dementia and Neurology, working for NHS England South West (2013-2015, interim from 2012-13). He has also acted as a Reviewer and Clinical Expert for the Healthcare Commission and its successor organisation the Care Quality Commission.
He has chaired expert review groups on Integrated Care Systems, Cannabis, Prevent and Learning from Deaths. In addition, he set up the Quality Improvement Committee and the Workforce Wellbeing Committee at the College.
His priorities as President were:
- establishing a pathway to parity for mental health services
- equality and diversity
- sustainability
- workforce wellbeing.
Adrian is a keen cyclist - road and hybrid in Devon and Brompton in London. Adrian has completed three Étape du Tours (an event for amateur cyclists covering the same route as a Tour de France stage). Adrian and his wife, Sarah are on their third tandem.