It has seemed to me and many others that Britain is now entering a political phase in which the post-war consensus around matters of social welfare is being dissolved in favour of a new set of assumptions which emphasize the individual's recourse to law or to legally-embodied appeal procedures, even at the expense of more collective rights which were previously enshrined (imperfectly, it is true, but still definitely) in State-sponsored welfare provision. As I present it here, the implication is made of a fundamental antagonism, perhaps, and more certainly of a serious and unmistakable competition, between the claims of a legally-inspired and individualistic approach and the aspirations of medicine and psychiatry which are grounded in the availability of collective provisions: collective in a double sense, as being both the product of politically organized popular demand and also the expression of structured interventions by the State and other social agencies aligned with the State. It is this dualism between medicine and law, or at a more rarefied level between an individualism founded on contractual civil relations and a collectivism rooted in the institutions of mass democracy and public spending, which I feel needs most justification in argument, and which clearly lacks such justification in the remarks I shall offer here.

The Association of University Teachers of Psychiatry recognizes the recommendation of the Royal College of Psychaitrists (1971) that experience in behavioural psycho-therapy should be an integral part of the training of psychiatrists. To help reduce the shortage of trainers in this field the AUTP, with the Institute of Psychiatry, runs a course to increase available training resources. This course is mainly intended for consultants and senior registrars and those of equivalent status, including specialist psycho-therapists, but a limited number of other places may be available.

For that first day, just over a year ago, I had had my grey, slightly pinstriped suit dry-cleaned and bought new shirt, shoe laces and after-shave to emphasize a fresh start. As I drove up to the clinic (somewhat early), I weighed up the pros and cons of the job I had accepted: pros—nice part of the country, relaxed life-style, pleasant people; cons—rather professionally isolated, no university, no in-patient unit (or was this one a pro?).

A consultant psychotherapist's main concern should be the development and organization of a specialized psychotherapy service. Other functions such as teaching, supervising, consultative and administrative work are derived from and subordinate to this task.

Following the establishment of the College, the Public Policy Committee held its first meeting in March 1972. It evolved from the Parliamentary Committee of the RMPA and at that meeting its terms of reference were agreed and are still current. They are: ‘That it shall take note of and consider legislation, existing and prospective, and departmental, regional and local administrative practice with a view to commenting on matters touching upon the affairs of the College. In this respect it is empowered to take immediate action, if public statements about psychiatric affairs are urgently required, but normally will report to Council any measures which it recommends. It shall concern itself with the education and enlightenment of the public in matters relating to the prevention and treatment of mental disorder and the work of the College and its members.’

The following guidelines (approved by Council in June 1982) are published to assist doctors who may be involved in preparing medical certificates for the Court of Protection in connection with the appointment of a receiver for a patient who is incapable of managing his affairs.

There has been growing concern among members of the College about the possible effects on health of rising unemployment; the Research Committee has been considering this and in particular has been exploring the possibility of encouraging further research in this field. Members of the Committee felt that on the whole general practitioners would be likely to see those affected in far greater numbers than psychiatrists. The Research Committee therefore organized a small symposium and invited representatives of the Social and Community Psychiatry Section and of the Research Division of the Royal College of General Practitioners to join it. The symposium was held at the College on 15 October 1982.

It has become the custom for our Annual General Meeting to be held at an interesting hospital, with a business meeting and discussions of a special topic in the mornings and, following lunch, the trainees of the Division are invited to present their research. As each year passes one is, yet again, impressed by their projects and their presentation. Currently they emanate almost exclusively from the Manchester trainees scheme. They are considerably influenced by Dr Peter Maguire.