Professor Alistair Burns

Emeritus Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at University of Manchester

Speaker

I am emeritus Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Manchester, an Honorary Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (where I work part time in the Memory Clinic) and an Honorary Member of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Previously, I was a Honorary Consultant at the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

I trained in general and old age psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London from 1983, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 1992. From 1993, I was Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at The University of Manchester (emeritus status since October 2023). From 2010 until October 2023, I was the National Clinical Director for Dementia (and Older People’s Mental Health) for the NHS in England. In 2015, I was awarded a CBE for services to Dementia.

As a clinical academic in the University, I led an extensive research programme, including a number of clinical trials. I have published over 400 academic papers and authored/edited 32 books on dementia and older people’s mental health. I am a Past President of the International Psychogeriatric Association and was editor of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry for over twenty years. I am a Patron the East Cheshire Hospice and a Trustee of Dementia UK.

Since commencing medico-legal work, I have completed over 350 reports across a range of issues including assessments for: Mental Capacity; Testamentary Capacity (in person and retrospective), the Court of Protection; Fitness to Stand Trial; Medical Negligence; Insurance Claims and the Coroner. My ratio of claimant/defendant work is approximately 50/50. I am experienced in appearing as an Expert Witness in Court. I am a Member of the Expert Witness Institute.