26 November 2025

Psychiatrists from CNWL and West London NHS Trust came together for the first joint psychiatry conference between the two organisations.

Co-led by Chief Medical Officers Dr Claire Dillon and Dr Con Kelly, the event focused on the theme Innovations in Psychiatry: Bridging Research and Practice, reflecting shared priorities across both trusts.

Opening the conference, Dr Claire Dillon said:

“Bringing our teams together today allows us to share experience and expertise and learn from one another. We share many of the same challenges clinically and have the same aims to support the medical workforce to have long and fulfilling careers. Today is about creating the space to learn across organisational boundaries, take time to pause during a busy time and to look after yourselves.”

Her counterpart, Dr Con Kelly, added:

“This is the first time CNWL and West London psychiatrists have come together in this way, alongside colleagues from Imperial who bring a strong research focus. There is a huge amount of expertise across both Trusts, and we make better use of it when we connect our work. Today is about practical innovation — understanding how research and new approaches translate into the everyday reality of clinical services. It’s also a chance to strengthen networks and lead the next generation of doctors.”

The programme covered a wide range of topics shaping mental health care, including advances in mood disorder treatment, developments in dementia pathways, new thinking in personality disorder care, and work to refine how we understand distress and diagnosis. Breakout discussions explored areas such as crisis pathways, engagement and clinical ethics, and prevention in child and adolescent mental health, allowing colleagues to share practical experience from across services.

The conference also reflected the broader collaboration already taking place between the trusts. Our resident doctors train within a joint scheme, rotating between both organisations, supported by a shared leadership and management offer. The new consultant forum, launched last year, is providing a regular space for new consultants from both trusts to learn together. Staff are also undertaking shared case investigator training for the first time in December 2025.

Alongside this, clinical teams are increasingly working together across services — in crisis, community and forensics pathways. A recent example is the pan-London Liaison and Diversion service which has just launched, led by the North London Forensic Collaborative, with CNWL and West London playing key roles.

Closing the event, Dr Dillon and Dr Kelly noted that the learning from the day will feed directly into several areas of joint work including next year’s consultant development programme, shared clinical priorities for 2025/26, and the design of future joint education and training sessions.  

Huge thanks to all of the speakers, organisers and stands that were present on the day.