Professional Profile

Dr Steven Birrell MBChB FRCPsych is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in general adult and liaison psychiatry.​

 

He qualified in medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 2006 and completed specialist psychiatric training in 2015. He subsequently worked as a Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist in NHS Fife before taking up his current NHS Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist post in June 2022.​

 

His clinical work involves the assessment and management of psychiatric disorders arising alongside physical illness, injury and complex medical presentations. This includes mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, personality disorders, functional symptoms and the interaction between physical and psychological health.He has undertaken independent medico-legal psychiatric work since 2017, providing opinions in civil and criminal proceedings, as well as matters relating to mental capacity and mental health legislation.

 

Areas of Medico-Legal Practice

Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

Independent psychiatric assessments and opinions concerning the nature, severity and consequences of psychological injury, including causation, prognosis, treatment requirements and functional impairment.​

 

Trauma-Related Disorders

Assessment of psychiatric disorders associated with traumatic experiences, including accidents, assaults, workplace incidents, military-related trauma and historical or institutional abuse.​

 

Physical Illness and Psychiatric Consequences

Assessment of psychiatric difficulties arising in association with physical injury, chronic pain, functional neurological symptoms, medically unexplained symptoms and complex medical conditions.​

 

Mental Capacity and Mental Health Legislation

Independent assessments and reports concerning decision-making capacity, including medical certificates supporting applications for Guardianship and Intervention Orders under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

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​Independent psychiatric opinions concerning the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, including applications and proceedings requiring specialist psychiatric evidence.​

 

Criminal and Other Legal Proceedings

Psychiatric opinions in criminal proceedings, including fitness for trial, mental disorder and relevant statutory provisions.

 

​Instructions concerning employment, professional regulation, human rights and other legal matters involving psychiatric issues may also be considered.

 

​​Professional Qualifications and Appointments

• Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych).

• GMC Specialist Register — General Psychiatry and Liaison Psychiatry.

• Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, NHS Fife.

• Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh.

• Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education, with Distinction.

 

​Dr Birrell has extensive experience in the preparation of psychiatric reports and the provision of oral evidence in court and tribunal proceedings.​

 

A full curriculum vitae, including qualifications, professional appointments, teaching, publications and other relevant experience, is available below.

​[View full curriculum vitae]

 

​​Independence

Dr Birrell's role as an independent expert is to provide objective psychiatric opinions based on the available evidence and his clinical assessment. His duty to the court takes precedence over the interests of the party instructing him.