Dr Aggrey Burke obituary remembers a psychiatrist who challenged racist admissions

Dr Aggrey Burke has died aged 82 of prostate cancer; he was the first Black consultant psychiatrist in the UK and in 1986 helped expose discriminatory admissions at London medical schools, prompting a Commission for Racial Equality inquiry and policy changes.

Dr Aggrey Burke has died aged 82 of prostate cancer. He was the first Black consultant psychiatrist in the UK and was known for advocating fair treatment of Black people in mental health and for work with those caught up in the criminal justice system. In 1986 he and Joe Collier published findings on discriminatory admissions at St George’s and other London medical schools, which led to a Commission for Racial Equality inquiry and changes to admissions policies. He was also active in community support after the 1981 New Cross house fire and continued work with local young people as recently as 2022. Key facts: - In 1986 Burke and colleague Joe Collier gathered evidence that St George’s and other London medical schools discriminated against women and people with "foreign sounding names," publishing a paper that led to a Commission for Racial Equality inquiry and wider policy changes. - He was the first Black consultant psychiatrist in the UK and worked on cases addressing the treatment of Black patients in secure settings, including the intervention that helped secure the release of Rastafarian Stephen Thompson from Rampton hospital. - After the New Cross house fire in January 1981 he helped set up a support group for survivors, supported families through the 1981 and 2004 inquests, and maintained involvement with the community in later years. - Born in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, he moved to the UK as a teenager, studied medicine at the University of Birmingham (graduating 1968), trained in psychiatry in the West Indies, and joined St George’s as a senior lecturer in 1976, later serving as a consultant. - He co-founded the George Padmore Institute in 1991 and remained an active trustee. Honors mentioned include an honorary doctorate from Birmingham (2024), inclusion among 100 Great Black Britons (2019), the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ President’s medal (2020), and the creation of the Aggrey Burke fellowship for Black medical students (2023). - He is survived by his sister Marilia, three nephews and two nieces. Summary: His research and public stance prompted formal inquiries and helped change medical school admissions practices in London, and he combined clinical work with community advocacy on Black mental health and criminal justice issues. Undetermined at this time.