Dame Fiona Caldicott wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Dame Fiona Caldicott, Chairman of Oxford University Hospitals, won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards on Wednesday 7 November 2018.

These annual awards, which mark the highest level of achievement within the field of psychiatry, were presented by BBC TV presenter Victoria Derbyshire.

Dame Fiona was the first woman to become President and Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

This was just one of a number of significant and groundbreaking achievements during her long and distinguished career.

Dame Fiona also chaired the Caldicott Committee into the protection and use of patient information and in 2014 she was appointed as the first National Data Guardian for Health and Care by the Secretary of State for Health. 

Her work has helped to ensure that patients' personal confidential data is held and used safely to support better outcomes from health and care services.

She has been Chairman of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2009, and her previous roles have included being Principal of Somerville College at the University of Oxford and Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists Awards judges said: "The decision was unanimous. Dame Fiona has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of patients and make positive, lasting changes to our NHS. We are delighted to present her with our most prestigious award for psychiatrists."

Professor Wendy Burn, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, added: "The RCPsych Awards are all about recognising and rewarding contributions to the mental health sector. But the Lifetime Achievement Award is a cut above the rest. I am so pleased that we're able to publicly honour Dame Fiona for all the work she has done to improve the lives of people with mental illness."

Pictured: Dame Fiona receives her award from BBC TV presenter Victoria Derbyshire.