The fellowship is the College’s highest award for non-GPs and previous fellows include Sir Chris Whitty, Sir Michael Marmot, three former presidents of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the TV chef Jamie Oliver. 

Nav Kapur is Professor of Psychiatry and Population Health at the University of Manchester, Director of the UK’s National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: “I’m delighted to be awarded the Fellowship.  At medical school I only really considered two career paths – psychiatry and general practice – and it could have gone either way!  So to be recognised by the Royal College of General Practitioners feels really special.  I’m very grateful to them and the people who nominated me.  

“I would like to thank all my colleagues, patients, carers and others who have helped with our research.  I also want to thank my family, especially my big brother Sanj, a fantastic GP who retired recently and without whom I would never have become a doctor.”