‘Stigma fighting’ Priory psychiatrist recognised for creating vital healthcare pathways for autistic patients
Date: 18th November 2024
A leading psychiatrist - hailed as a “stigma fighter” - has been honoured for his work supporting neurodivergent patients.
Dr Asif Mehdi Bachlani, a consultant psychiatrist at Priory, has been named ‘Psychiatrist of the Year’ by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr Bachlani is the clinical lead for Priory Hospital Woking’s autism pathway. He has been instrumental in setting up the first diagnostic pathway for autism within Priory’s private healthcare services.
This assessment model for autistic people is now being rolled out across all Priory hospitals and wellbeing centres, ensuring timely access to autism diagnosis and support for patients.
Dr Bachlani has supported the development of a new 12-week group-programme for people recently diagnosed as autistic, providing psychological support, post-diagnostic information, awareness and ongoing care.
In addition to his role at Priory, Dr Bachlani is an Associate Non-Executive Director with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and is the Vice-Chair of the NHS Benchmarking Mental Health, Autism and Learning Disability Reference Group. He is leading the development of data and digital literacy skills for all grades of psychiatrists for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The Royal College of Psychiatrist Awards celebrate the best and brightest teams and individuals in the field. Judges praised Dr Bachlani for changing the lives of autistic people at a ‘population level’.
They said: “Dr Bachlani’s work is full of examples of all-round excellence as a curious, innovative clinician, status quo challenger, stigma fighter and data-driven population-level change maker.
“His ability to ignite the passion and nurture curiosity in others is most impressive.”
Dr Bachlani’s work at Priory also includes the development of tailored treatment plans for patients with acute mental health conditions who are also autistic, to ensure they receive the treatment they need while acknowledging their unique needs, providing the most effective and compassionate support possible. His approach has been lauded for its focus on patient-centred care and its emphasis on integrating clinical expertise with the latest research findings.
Dr Bachlani said: “I am truly honoured to have received the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ award for Psychiatrist of the Year. As someone who is neurodivergent myself, I have always felt like I have done things differently, and I am extremely proud to be making a positive difference to the lives of autistic people.”
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services.
ENDS
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About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 290 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 15 facilities and 2,100 beds caring for 11,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees across the group.