Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 358-359. doi: 10.1192/pb.26.9.358-b
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric Bulletin (2002) 26: 358-359
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Elizabeth Joan Harbott
Former Associate Specialist, Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Hampshire
John Grimshaw
Elizabeth Joan Harbott qualified at the Welsh National School of Medicine
in 1957. A post in medicine in Swansea was followed by a period in the
Professorial Department of Obstetrics in Cardiff, where she obtained the
Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After a short period in general
practice, she returned to hospital medicine as a junior house medical officer,
before moving to the George Washington Memorial University Hospital in
Washington DC as an internal medicine
fellow.
On returning to the UK she became a psychiatric trainee, first at Brookwood
Hospital and subsequently at St Luke's branch of the Middlesex Psychiatric
Department, where she met her future husband.
Having obtained the DPM, she and Tony moved to Winchester, where Joan took
a part-time staff grade post with the Southampton Psychiatric Service. In
1972, she became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, but wishing
to remain part-time, she continued in a staff grade post, running out-patient
and day-patient services.
When the psychiatric services moved from the mental hospital to the city in
1979, Joan became a senior member of the firm dealing with the eastern half of
the city. She frequently acted as a part-time locum consultant in a variable
and flexible way, making her one of the most valued and discerning members of
the Southampton consultant establishment. This unusual career continued
without a break until her retirement in 1991, although she did then
occasionally return to clinical work in her characteristically helpful way,
when she perceived that there were pressures.
Joan's long-standing service in Southampton enabled her to provide
continuity of care to a vast number of patients a virtue which is all
too frequently wanting in modern psychiatric practice. Her considerable
clinical acumen generated respect from patients and colleagues alike. On many
occasions colleagues on her firm would have cause to be grateful for her
unusual perspicacity and discernment.
As a colleague she was generous, obliging and unassuming. Outside medicine
her interests were wide, including the Welsh language, history, travel,
sailing and cooking, to mention only a few.
Joan died on 28 May, 2001, aged 69, following a tragic and short illness,
bravely borne.