Dominic Beer 1956-2013

Early Life and Schooling Dominic was born in Reading on the 4th November 1956 to Susanna and Michael Beer He attended Leighton Park School in Reading from 1969-1974   He loved wearing his red ski suit! He then attended Oxford University from 1975-1978 studying Modern History and Modern Languages

Early Medical Career He began his medical training in 1978 at Guy’s Hospital in London and qualified in 1984 He completed his post-doctoral research fellowship for the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine He became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1989 Between 1990-1994 he worked as Senior Registrar at Guy’s Hospital/South East Thames

Medical Career Since 1994 he worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist for a 15 bed Challenging Behaviour Ward He had an active teaching career at Guy’s, King’s, St Thomas’ University of London and was visiting lecturer at other universities He was head of Research and Development and Clinic Audit for Oxleas He has published over 70 research papers and was assistant editor of the History of Psychiatry He was also co-author of the Psychiatric Intensive Care textbook In 2004 he was made fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatry

NAPICU Along with a core group Dominic was at the forefront of the revolution in psychiatric intensive care It was the poor conditions on many locked wards which prompted the first nationwide survey of PICUs by Dominic Beer, Stephen Pereira and Carol Paton It was found that the majority did not have a policy on the use of rapid tranquillisations This survey prompted the idea for the formation of a National PICU Group which involved into NAPICU The first national conference was held in 1996 on psychiatric intensive care in Kent NAPICU was formed the same year

NAPICU Dominic was one of the key founding members of NAPICU Dominic served as the first chairman from 1997-2001 He was instrumental in gaining the support of various regions in the UK His particular skill was in establishing systematic procedures and operational matters He was an active contributor to the NELMHT PICU Research Group that created the DOH National Minimal Standards He has helped better the lives of many patients with severe mental illness in his own practice and together with NAPICU colleagues on a much wider scale

Publications Beer, MD (1992) Introduction to, and translation of, E. Kraepelin (1920) “The Manifestations of Insanity”. History of Psychiatry 12 504-529 Beer MD (1995) History of the psychiatric profession and its institutions. Current Opinion in Psychiatry 8, 346-350 Beer MD, Paton C, Pereira S (1997) Hot beds of general psychiatry: A national survey of psychiatric intensive care units. Psych Bulletin 21, 142-144

Publications Pereira S, Beer MD and Paton C (1999) Good practice issues in psychiatric intensive care units. Findings from a national survey. Psych Bulletin, 23, 397-400 Pereira S, Beer D, Paton C (1999) When all else fails. A locally devised structured decision process for enforcing Clozapine therapy. Psych Bulletin, 23, 654- 656

Publications Beer MD, Pereira SM and Paton C (2000) eds. Book Psychiatric Intensive Care London: Greenwich Medical Media Beer MD, Pereira SM and Paton C (2000). Psychiatric Intensive Care – Development and Definition (chapter 1) in: Psychiatric Intensive Care London: Greenwich Medical Media Beer MD, Pereira SM and Paton C (2000). Management of Acutely Disturbed Behaviour (chapter 2) in Psychiatric Intensive Care London: Greenwich Medical Media Pereira SM, Beer MD, Paton C (2000). Good practice issues in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (chapter 17) in Psychiatric Intensive Care London: Greenwich Medical Media

Publications 1st Edition Published 2001 & 2nd Edition Published 2008

Hobbies and Interests Dominic played any game with a ball, including golf. He played most of them with his father first and golf was no exception.

Hobbies and Interests Dominic was a keen sportsman: captaining hockey, football and 1st XI cricket for two seasons The OLCC on the West Country Tour was a highlight of the year. Eventually, even his sons were invited to play!

Hobbies and Interests Cricket His passion was cricket- member of the MCC and played n the OLCC (Old boys CC of Leighton Park School in Reading who recently held a memorial match in his honour. This was a particularly fine cover drive.

Hobbies and Interests Dominic loved his old school cricket club and his longstanding involvement as a player and secretary was honoured with this presentation of the award of ‘Life Vice President’ by the club’s president.

Hobbies and Interests Surfing One of our best family holidays was spent down in Croyde bay. D really took to surfing and to overcome the effect of the sea water on his sore skin, he daubed himself in layers of greasy emollient. It made the wet suit easier to get on and off! Here he is with 3 of the 4 children, his nephew and his beloved dog Bailey.

Hobbies and Interests Skiing Dominic loved skiing from the moment he was first taken to the mountains in Aveimore! Since then he made sure the family went skiing every year together- but in the Alps! His last skiing trip was about 6 weeks before he died.

Hobbies and Interests The Olympics Dominic threw himself into every aspect of the Olympics. He spent HOURS on the internet finding tickets and his greatest triumph was securing a host of tickets for the Paraolympics to which h took family and friends

Hobbies and Interests Painting After ill health forced his retirement from psychiatry, he developed a hidden pleasure and talent for painting. He is here surrounded by some of his rich and vibrant paintings.

Dominic was a natural teacher    Dominic was  a natural teacher. He loved drawing people out (educare) and would delight in discussing ideas, thoughts and histories (sporting ones especially) with his children. The other thing to note about this picture is the mug of tea (Earl Grey) and the digestive biscuit (McVities only please!). Staple diet!

Dominic was a fine speech maker   Dominic was a fine speech maker. He was so observant of other’s ways that he was able to highlight their strengths and gently unmask their weaknesses with great humour and affection. Here he was telling a story at his father’s expense in celebration of his 80th birthday.

Dominic loved birthdays and we had a family ritual of opening cards and presents round the kitchen table. This large card was made by me for his 50th.

Another birthday ritual- telling a funny story- this time making his mother in law laugh loudly!

Dominic Beer 1956-2013