Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 158. doi: 10.1192/pb.26.4.158
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 158
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Sheila Will
Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist New Craigs Hospital, Inverness
A. G. Hay
Dr Sheila Will, Consultant in Old Age and General Adult Psychiatry, died in
her own home at the age of 46 on 13 September 2001; a great loss to family,
friends, colleagues and indeed everyone who knew
her.
Sheila attended Aberdeen University, graduating in 1978. On completing her
pre-registration year, she immediately entered her chosen career of psychiatry
and worked as a senior house officer and then a registrar on the Aberdeen
training scheme until 1983. She passed her MRCPysch examination in 1980.
During this period she rotated as a registrar to Craig Dunain Hospital in
Inverness, where she would, eventually, take up a consultant appointment. She
served as senior registrar in Edinburgh in 1983 and 1986, followed by 2 years
part-time as senior registrar in Inverness. She was appointed full-time
consultant psychiatrist in Inverness in 1988 and continued to work in the
department until shortly before her death. She was involved in the provision
of both general adult services and old age services for a wide area of the
Highlands, including Inverness, Nairn, Grantown, Kingussie and the Isle of
Skye. First and foremost she regarded herself as a clinician and her caring
demeanour made her immensely popular with her patients. Her kind hearted,
unassuming manner would readily put patients at ease and she kept in contact
with a number of her patients long after her clinical commitment had ceased.
Although primarily a clinician she took an active interest in the planning and
development of mental health services, both Highland-wide and nationally. She
was strongly supportive, and actively involved in the proceedings of the
Scottish Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists as well as keeping up
to date with UK-wide College developments. She served as a member of the
Scottish Old Age Psychiatry Division from 1995 until 1998. On a local level
she was a member of, and then secretary to, the Highland Area Medical
Committee. From 1997 until 2000 she was secretary, then chairman, of the
Mental Health Advisory Group — up until she became too unwell to carry
on her work.
As a consultant colleague her clinical skills were exemplary. She was
renowned for her hard working enthusiastic nature and her cheerful, disarming
demeanour. There was not a colleague who was not moved by the fortitude she
displayed in the face of illness and the ability to normalise the enormous
impact this had on her family, her colleagues and herself. She was totally
unselfish. Despite her illness she continued to work, where she remained ever
cheerful, ever positive and continued to have a major role in the shaping and
development of mental health services in the Highlands. The influence of this
role will continue for years to come. Sheila was a devoted wife and mother and
is survived by her husband and two children. Throughout her working life she
made certain that her commitments did not intrude on her main passion —
her family.
She was caring, she was compassionate, she is sadly missed.
