Simon Wessely
British psychiatrist and former president of the Royal College of PsychiatristsWikipedia
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Search complete. 5 mentions across 5 episodes found for "Simon Wessely".
Oct 14, 2026
Adam BrimelowHOST
So what's required, the report says, is a needs-first service where meaningful support and community intervention should be provided immediately based on an individual's functional needs rather than forcing them to wait years for a formal clinical label.
Adam BrimelowHOST
So what does that mean in practice? Let's unpack these findings with Sir Simon Wessely, vice chair of the review, Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King's College London, a consultant at King's and Maudsley hospitals, and former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Adam BrimelowHOST
It's good, too, to have Rebecca Gray with us.
Adam BrimelowHOST
Rebecca is director of the NHS Alliance's Mental Health Network.
Kamran AbbasiHOST
Uncertainty about what was driving that has been a key question.
Kamran AbbasiHOST
Is it an increase in the prevalence of ADHD and autism or is it a case of over diagnosis? Secondly, With or without a diagnosis, are people able to access the support they need? Joining me to discuss all of this is Professor Sir Simon Wessely, who is a psychiatrist at King's College London and one of the report's vice-chairs.
Kamran AbbasiHOST
I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Kamran AbbasiHOST
Simon, thank you for joining us.
Annabel CollinsHOST
And I think as well, Sir Keir Starmer, when he was prime minister, also kind of weighed in on the debate around this, around people needing to go back to work, and it really felt that that was what was the springboard for, for this review.
Annabel CollinsHOST
And as you said as well, it, it was, it, it has been chaired by leading psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist, Peter Fonagy, um, who's incredibly well-respected in his, in his area, and co-chaired by Sir Simon Wessely, former Royal College of Psychiatrists president, and Professor Gillian Baird, also an expert in this area.
Annabel CollinsHOST
So, you know, it's got some real weight behind it.
Annabel CollinsHOST
And there was an interim report that was published in the spring, which didn't give that much away at all, and six months or so later, we're here with the final report.
James KitchenHOST
An independent reviews found recognition of the conditions has risen dramatically, leading to hundreds of thousands of people awaiting assessment.
James KitchenHOST
Professor Sir Simon Wessely is a psychiatrist and vice chair of the review.
James KitchenHOST
Speaking to Times Radio, he said private clinics should be held to the same standards as the NHS.
Simon WesselySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Misdiagnosis, which is what we're talking about here, i- it's been with us for as long as we've had doctors.
Nick FerrariHOST
He chaired the independent review.
Nick FerrariHOST
You also have two vice chairs, Professor Simon Wessely, a former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Nick FerrariHOST
Professor Gillian Baird, a consultant pediatrician who specializes in autism, um, p- p- professionally.
Nick FerrariHOST
These are heavyweights involved.