Birmingham doctor wins award for outstanding achievements

Organised by Cygnet Health Care, one of the UK’s largest independent providers of specialised mental health services, the Cygnet Annual Psychiatrists Conference and National Awards 2024 recognise excellence in the healthcare industry.

Dr Dale Lawrence, of Redditch, has been working in Psychiatry for more than 30 years and is currently the Responsible Officer at Cygnet Health Care. She was awarded the Swan Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and commitment to high-quality patient care over the course of her career.

Dr Tony Romero, CEO of Cygnet, said: “It is difficult to summarise a full, varied and long career that has benefited so many patients, carers and colleagues. She is a very special individual.

“Dr Lawrence is incredibly passionate about what she does. Her motivation, compassion and values make a positive difference for our services users and our residents every single day.

“Her skills, commitment and willingness to go above and beyond ensures that as an organisation, we are improving lives together. She gives our service users hope of a brighter future through constantly striving to provide high quality, safe, person-centred care.

“Putting service users and their loved ones at the heart of what we do is integral to our culture and this value is exemplified by Dr Lawrence on a daily basis.”

Dr Lawrence joined the clinical team at specialist autism service, Cygnet Health Care’s Wast Hills, near Birmingham, in 2008. Located in Kings Norton, Birmingham, Cygnet Wast Hills provides support for 21 individuals with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs.

She has been a psychiatrist for more than 30 years and has worked extensively in her chosen field of learning disability psychiatry. She has special interests in forensic psychiatry, autism and dementia.

She worked in NHS mental health services within the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire for over 12 years and was the sole Community Learning Disability Consultant Psychiatrist covering Worcestershire for four years between 2001-2005.

She has also worked as a Forensic Learning Disabilities Psychiatrist based at a local medium secure service for a few years and published dementia research. In 2011, Dr Lawrence obtained an MBA in Health and Social Care.

Dr Lawrence said: “Receiving the Swan Award for outstanding achievements in psychiatry and contribution to Cygnet Health Care was a complete surprise. It is extremely humbling to be recognised by my colleagues and Cygnet Health Care in such a manner.

“My journey as a psychiatrist started over 30 years ago and I have been in my current clinical role for over 16 years. Despite publications in the Lancet, contributing to psychoeducational material, training and speaking at conferences, the real satisfaction for me over the years is that of making a difference in the lives of people with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities.

“This is why I embarked on this journey and what has kept me motivated over the years.

“In recent years, I have had the privilege of supporting my medical colleagues in more senior roles, in particular that of the Responsible Officer for Cygnet Health Care.

“This has offered me the opportunity to try to ensure that all our doctors are able to practise in a safe, caring, supportive, compassionate and fair environment so they will thrive and grow. I am passionate about this.”