Jason Price 1971-2022

Dr Jason Price was known to many within the BPS having been active in his clinical role at a national level, and given he had a prominent role within the BPS Division of Neuropsychology (DoN).

Jason successfully chaired the policy unit of the DoN for over five years, leading our field in promoting an understanding of functional neurological disorders (FND) within a dedicated policy development workstream along with Dr Niels Detert. Jason was instrumental in developing a revised BPS position paper on FND. He held key roles on the medical advisory group for FND Hope UK, supporting FND Action, and chairing the UKFN Forum of the British Neuropsychiatry Association. This latter interface he instigated as a way to bring together delegates from all professional organisations with an interest in FND.

In the domain of stroke, Jason was a key member of the intercollegiate stroke working party for a number of years and, as part of that, co-chaired the clinical psychology workstream which authored RCP Stroke Guidance (2016). This guideline defined the workforce need for psychologists in stroke pathways, making workforce recommendations explicit, and proposing a model of matched care for stroke patients underpinned by skilled triage. Following Jason's work, we now actively advocate for the application of the model for neuropsychological services beyond the field of stroke, in acquired brain injury as a whole.

Jason's pragmatic approach to the interface between specialist psychological services and IAPT was welcomed, for example, by the Neurological Alliance with whom, among other collaborators, he wrote the psychological section of the much-cited document, Parity of Esteem for People Affected by Neurological Conditions. Another related significant piece of work carried out through our policy unit, was the Mapping of Neuropsychological Services within Neurosciences Centres, a significant DoN publication, which highlighted a divisive postcode lottery in the commissioning of services nationally.

Jason brought characteristic enthusiasm to  a wide range of clinical approaches in his neuropsychological practice including hypnosis, EMDR, ACT, and motivational interviewing. He was also an active contributor to the evidence base, and keen to disseminate and communicate with passion from numerous publications to more informal contributions.  He developed training materials for staff working with stroke which remain popular and in active use. He was passionate about dissemination and contributed to podcasts such the Tees Neuro Podcast where he and Ros Murray tackled Functional Neurology, and the Neuro Clinic with our divisional chair, Ingram Wright.

Last year, Jason was presented with our Divisional award for his Distinguished Contribution to Neuropsychology, recognising his many, varied and important achievements. We will commemorate his work further in the event we are running in March this year on FND.

Outside of work Jason was a keen historian and archer. Jason participated in the Antient Scorton Silver Arrow competition, the longest-established and oldest recorded sporting event, dating back to 1673. He won not only the Silver Arrow and Gold Quiver (originated in 1824), for achieving the highest score, but also the Gold Medal for Captain of Numbers (dating from 1842) for the most hits!

While acknowledging all of his contributions, Jason will be much missed particularly as a kind and generous colleague and friend to many within our division. He was relentlessly positive and constructive in his approach despite the challenges inherent in transdisciplinary work. Jason was an inspiration to many, not only because of the breadth of his contributions to the field of neuropsychology, but also with his positivity, diplomacy, and calm leadership style. He was a fantastic role model as a psychologist, neuropsychologist and our dear friend.  

Jason is greatly missed by his wife and family and our thoughts remain with them as we fondly remember him.