David Enoch obituary

"My friend David Enoch, who has died aged 99, made his greatest mark as a campaigner for humane mental health care and was a founding fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. In the 1960s he served as a medical adviser to Barbara Robb, the psychotherapist who exposed neglect and abuse in long-stay NHS psychiatric wards and, through her controversial book Sans Everything (1967), pushed for major reforms."

"While at Runwell hospital in Wickford, Essex (which closed in 2010), in the late 50s, David produced a prizewinning paper on Capgras syndrome, a rare psychiatric condition. He compiled case studies in his 1967 book Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes, which was translated into several languages and became a standard work of reference. Although this made his name in the wider profession, David said his real calling was improving patient care."

David Enoch campaigned for humane mental health care and helped found the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He advised Barbara Robb in the 1960s on exposing neglect in long-stay NHS psychiatric wards, contributing to reforms after initial ministerial dismissal. As consultant at Shelton hospital in Shrewsbury he introduced care in the community and converted a former asylum into a training ground for reforms. Born in Penygroes, south Wales, he served in the British army during partition in India, then studied at St Thomas' hospital medical school, graduating in 1954 and training at University College and the Maudsley. He researched psychopharmacology, published on Capgras syndrome, and compiled Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes (1967).

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