Pictured above at the presentation are Lead Governor Mike Hobbs, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director for Oxfordshire CAMHS Dr Emma Fergusson, Consultant for Oxfordshire CAMHS Community Services Dr Marian Perkins and Trust Chair David Walker.

Dr Perkins is dedicated to the wellbeing of young people in our community – a valued colleague in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, helping children and young people up to 18 who find it hard to cope with everyday life because of difficult feelings, behaviour or relationships.

She has led the specialist neuropsychiatry team for over thirty years, providing outstanding care to young people and their families, whilst providing vital training to junior doctors and clinicians at the Trust.

Dr Perkins is dependable, compassionate and highly experienced, her clinical expertise is often depended on by paediatricians, neurologists, geneticists and psychiatrists to provide patients with complex difficulties with what they need.

An excellent role model, Dr Perkins has a direct clinical impact on young people and their families and plays a vital role in improving the future care for neurodiverse people. Training junior doctors for 30 years and being a training programme director for 10 years, Dr Perkins supervises and mentors consultant colleagues to improve care in the future.

An example of Dr Perkins’ skills occurred recently with a family who needed support following previous assessments, after a review with Oxford Health the family were so grateful for Dr Perkins’ care, expressing:

“They would be forever grateful for Dr Perkin’s wisdom and professionalism”.

Dr Perkins is a dedicated, passionate and thoughtful expert in her field, the Trust are very grateful to have her as part of the Oxford Health team.

Lead Governor Mike Hobbs presented Dr Perkins with her well-deserved award, recognising her commitment over the last 30 years.

The nomination

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director for Oxfordshire CAMHS Dr Emma Fergusson nominated Dr Perkins for her professionalism, exceptional care and impact on patients and their families – she said:

“Dr Perkins looks after the children of many professionals working in the NHS. She supports a number of consultants who are struggling, and we ask for her input in the most complex and challenges cases, where other organisations are making complaints or involving legal processes. We can rely on her absolute professionalism, clarity of thought and ability to resolve situations in a way that prevents further discord or complaints. She contains anxiety within the system at senior levels and this is invaluable but has been particularly so throughout the pandemic and the recent notes outage.”