In 1975, my colleague, mentor and pal Dave Jolley, who has died aged 79, established one of many first devoted outdated age psychiatry companies within the UK – in south Manchester.
The service, underneath Dave’s management at Withington hospital, made no assumption of a slippery slope of psychological decline in outdated age – psychological well being problems had been seen as treatable and reversible till confirmed in any other case – and, even then, ameliorative help was provided.
Sufferers had been assessed and adopted up in their very own houses, in addition to at inpatient and hospital day services, with consideration paid to the overlaps between social components and psychological and bodily problems in older folks. Consequently the service gained a nationwide and worldwide fame, and served as a mannequin for related ventures.
Born in Wolverhampton to Hilda (nee Cooke), a housewife, and James, a storeman with British Oxygen, Dave went to Wolverhampton grammar college after which certified at Man’s hospital, London.
His first job, in 1969, was as a home doctor at St Mary’s hospital on the Isle of Wight, however by the next 12 months he was coaching in psychiatry on the College Hospital of South Manchester, and in 1975 he was appointed as a marketing consultant psychiatrist there, with accountability to offer companies for older folks.
After 20 years in Manchester he moved to Wolverhampton well being care NHS belief, changing into its medical director and organising a psychiatry service alongside related strains to the one he had created at Withington hospital. He was additionally made honorary professor of psychiatry at Wolverhampton College.
In 2003 Dave retired from full-time NHS work for well being causes, however continued part-time in varied posts in Staffordshire and Larger Manchester, together with as·an honorary marketing consultant at Willow Wooden hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne (2010-15) and as a locum at Wythenshawe hospital (2015-17). From 2006 to 2022 he was an honorary reader in outdated age psychiatry on the College of Manchester.
Over time Dave contributed to nationwide coverage and observe decision-making on outdated age psychiatry by way of writing tutorial papers, advising varied NHS trusts and by sitting on various committees, together with the Royal Faculty of Physicians’ working get together on companies for older folks with psychological problems, of which he was secretary in 1989, and as chair of the part for outdated age psychiatry on the Royal Faculty of Psychiatrists (1990-94).
Dave’s dedication, power, humility and humanity impressed many individuals in his occupation, together with me. He additionally motivated folks in his area people in Altrincham, Cheshire, the place he was made a freeman earlier this 12 months. In retirement there he volunteered as an assistant steward and worship chief at Bowdon Vale Methodist church.
As honorary secretary of the Buddies of John Leigh Park in Altrincham from 2014 to 2023, Dave was concerned in lots of actions within the park, together with each day upkeep of an aviary that was saved from closure by the native council, and main weekly well being walks for the general public.
He’s survived by his second spouse, Susan Hodgson, whom he married in 1985, and their daughters, Emily and Sarah, by his three kids, Ben, Kate and Esther, from his first marriage to Janis O’Connor, which led to divorce in 1984, two grandchildren and his brother Malcolm.
