LPT’s Dr Rahat Ghafoor has been recognised as one of the country’s top psychiatrists by her professional body.

She was awarded a prestigious fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She will receive a certificate at a ceremony next summer.

Dr Ghafoor specialises in working with children and adolescents, and is based at the Valentine’s Centre near Beaumont Leys and at Loughborough Hospital.

She said: “I am delighted to receive the fellowship. It follows a lot of work over a decade, and a lengthy application process.”

She began her medical career in Pakistan, but settled in Leicester in 2009 after spells working in Scotland and other parts of England.

She said: “I have had wonderful colleagues and wonderful mentors.

“We have a very diverse community, a lot of people from very different backgrounds – you learn a lot and develop skills you might not in other parts of the country.

“There is a lot of stigma around mental health in the Asian communities. I think we are not seeing as many people from those communities as we should as a result.”

One of her research projects has looked at different between the way white British and Asian British teenagers experience eating disorders. She has carried out radio and television interviews with the aim of encouraging more South Asian families to seek help where children are struggling with their mental health.

Doctors can only be considered for a fellowship after they have worked as a consultant for at least ten years.

Dr lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “Fellowship of the college is awarded as a mark of distinction and recognition of contributions to psychiatry. You have clearly demonstrated and evidenced significant contributions to the core purposes of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and have been awarded the Fellowship because of this.

“I would like to offer my warmest congratulations.”

Dr Ghafoor became an associate medical director at LPT in 2023, specialising in training the next generation of psychiatrists. She has also led work to smooth the transition from young people as they move towards adult mental health services.

She used her language skills to record a video in Pashto, advising people how to look after their mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is also a leading member of the British Pakistani Psychiatric Association.

She has also advised anaesthetists how to care for patients who are taking antipsychotic medication for mental illnesses.