Dr Tony Benning – Head of the Psychiatric Department

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Dr Tony Benning – Head of the Psychiatric Department
November 27, 2020January 18, 2021

Dr Tony Benning – Head of the Psychiatric Department

 
1. Please share your most interesting case with a patient?

A case that has stayed with me ever since I was a medical student in Manchester concerns a man with severe schizophrenia who presented with catatonia and mutism. None of the professors or consultants could get him to talk. But my friend, also a medical student, managed to do so. To me, this says something about the fact it takes more than qualifications or rank to be an effective clinician and for patients to feel comfortable with you.

2. What is the best advice you were given during your time in medical school that has had a lasting impact on your practice?

The best advice I was given was to gain as broad a training experience as possible before specializing, and then to maintain a varied portfolio in practice.  Being in Maple Ridge allows me and my colleagues to maintain a broad-based practice; our work encompasses ER, the inpatient ward, on-call, coverage of medical wards, mental health center etc. And yet, if you want to develop a specialized focus, there are plenty of opportunities to do so.

3. What are you currently working on that is helping to impact our local medical community and/or local patients?

Recently, the psychiatrists have been working with the primary care network to improve access to mental health care for people in our community. Some people may not feel comfortable coming into the mental health center so there may be an opportunity to screen for and treat mental illness at the primary care level.

4. What is some advice or wisdom you would like to share with your medical staff peers, or any new physicians joining our community?

This is a great community to work in.  We are lucky to have a very collegial group of physicians. As I say, being in a small community enables you to ‘do a bit of everything’ and maintain a broad-based general—rather than overly specialized—practice.