Dr Jo Black and Dr Giles Berrisford  have been appointed as the new Associate National Directors for Perinatal Mental Health for NHS England.

Dr Jo Black is Associate National Clinical Director for Perinatal Mental Health for NHS England

Dr Jo Black is a consultant perinatal psychiatrist with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, SW regional representative on the perinatal faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Chair of the Regional Reps Committee. She has developed an integrated community perinatal mental health service, with perinatal expertise embedded in the three maternity units serving families in Devon.

Jo has experience of working with teams, bringing together clinical, management and commissioning colleagues from primary care, acute and mental health services, women, families and colleagues from the third sector. She looks forward to bringing her energy, experience and ideas to this national role.

Dr Giles Berrisford is Associate National Clinical Director for Perinatal Mental Health for NHS England

Dr Giles Berrisford is the Clinical Lead at the Birmingham Perinatal Mental Health Service at BSMHFT – leading one of the largest inpatient Mother and Baby Units in the country. He is the Chair of the national charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) – working closely with women and families directly affected by postpartum psychosis – the most severe form of perinatal mental illness. He is the Vice-Chair Elect of the Perinatal Psychiatry Faculty within the Royal College of Psychiatrists and is the West Midlands’ Senate representative for the Perinatal Psychiatry Clinical Reference Group. He is committed to bringing about improved access to maternal mental health services and reducing the unwarranted variation in care currently seen across the country.