Dr Annette Downey

I met Dr. Annette Downey in 2014 when I was detained under the Mental Health Act and put on a Section 3. I have a reasonably good opinion of her, she is a competent psychiatrist although I do feel that she was not being completely honest with me (I have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and I tend to believe that everyone is involved in a conspiracy against me). She changed my medication to an older antipsychotic (Depixal), to which I reacted badly. She then did at least listen to me when I complained of negative side effects (akathisia) and admitted that it was not fair to keep me on a medication that was not compatible with my physiology. I was then put on Quetiapine which was a medication that I got on with fairly well. She has a pleasant personality and did what she reasonably could to get me off the Section 3 order and out of hospital as quickly as was possible, given my complex set of circumstances. She is certainly one of the better psychiatrists I have met and I feel fairly happy to recommend her.

I would not recommend her

Dr Downey is a caring professional. Excellent patient empathy. She is very easy to talk to and responds humanely. Great asset for this specialty.