Dr Rachel Gibbons
BSc MBBS MRCPsych M.Inst.Psychoanal
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Gibbons is an experienced consultant in adult psychiatry. She is currently working
independently and is the Chair of the Working Group on the Effect of Suicide and Homicide
on Clinicians, and the Vice-Chair of the Psychotherapy Faculty at the Royal College of
Psychiatrists. Until February 2020 Dr Gibbons worked as the Head of Therapies for the
Priory Group, providing leadership of all therapies across the Priory Healthcare division
covering around 100 hospitals and wellbeing centres.
Until September 2018 Dr Gibbons worked as a substantive consultant in the NHS. Her role
was as the sole consultant for the Complex Care Team at the Halliwick at St Ann’s Hospital.
This is a nationally leading innovative service for all the patients in Haringey who need
secondary care and do not have a psychotic illness.
Dr Gibbons was the Suicide Lead for Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust and
the Chair of the Serious Incident Review Group. Previously. she worked for a highly
regarded teaching hospital in North London where, in addition to her consultant role, she
was Co-Chair of the Trust’s Medical Advisory Committee. Dr Gibbons has also worked as a
Liaison Consultant Psychiatrist in the Royal Free Hospital Psychiatric Liaison team.
Dr Gibbons’ clinical caseload includes all adult mental disorders. She has full registration
with the General Medical Council and is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr Gibbons has two CSTs (certificates of specialist training) and therefore has two entries on
the GMC’s Specialist Register. The first is in adult psychiatry and the second in adult
psychotherapy. Dr Gibbons has held consultant posts in both specialities. Dr Gibbons has
trainings in a broad range of psychotherapies; she is on the British Psychoanalytic Council
(BPC) register. Dr Gibbons now spends most of her time leading work at the Royal College
of Psychiatrists. She has recently published several papers, on suicide, homicide and
mourning. She has just won the one of the Presidents Prizes for 2024.
Dr Gibbons has extensive experience as an expert witness in the medico-legal field over the
last 23 years and completes around 1000 reports per year on adults, children and
adolescents. She reports on employment, personal injuries, sexual abuse, clinical
negligence and various other matters. Dr Gibbons has provided evidence in court and has
completed well over 1000 joint reports with other experts.
