OUR EXPERTS
​Dr Matthew Hartley
Dr Matthew Hartley is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, currently employed as the Responsible Clinician on an acute medium secure Clinical Decisions Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. His clinical work is focussed on diagnostic and risk assessment, as well as the treatment of acute mental disorder. He regularly assesses new patients for the acute forensic pathway in both prison and healthcare settings. He has practised regularly as an expert witness since 2019.
AVAILABILITY
Dr Hartley is available to conduct assessments in person and by video link, including on weekends and evenings.
QUALIFICATIONS
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MBBS
King’s College London (2013)
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BSc in Medical Ethics and Law
King’s College London (2013)
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MRCPsych
Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2018)
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Approved under section 12(2)
of the Mental Health Act 1983, as amended in 2007
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
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General Medical Council
Specialist Register
(GMC number: 4711565)
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Full Membership
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Dr Hartley’s preclinical and clinical medical training was at King’s College London. He has been a qualified medical practitioner since 2013 and a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists since 2018. He holds an intercalated Bachelor of Science in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London. His core psychiatric training was on the Maudsley Training Programme and Forensic Higher Training on the South London scheme. He is approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 (as amended in 2007) as a medical practitioner with specialist expertise in the assessment and treatment of mental disorder, and he is an Approved Clinician.
Dr Hartley’s previous experience includes training roles in general adult, child and adolescent, and specialist psychotherapy services. As a forensic psychiatrist, he has worked in a wide range of settings, including high, medium, and low secure services, prison in-reach, and in a community forensic service. He has clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of severe mental illness, mood disorders, trauma-related disorders, personality disorder, psychopathy, stalking, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
An area of academic interest includes the safe management of agitation and acute behavioural disturbance. He has published a peer-reviewed publication in this area and sat on the Royal College of Psychiatrists Expert Reference Group on ‘acute behavioural disturbance’ and ‘excited delirium’ in 2022, and the the 2024 Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health expert advisory group. Another academic interest is in mental capacity, fitness to plead and the management of vulnerable defendants in the criminal justice system. He is currently working on a research project relating to Community Treatment Orders.
Dr Hartley delivers lectures on the Maudsley Training Programme MRCPsych course for Core Psychiatry Trainees and on the Forensic Mental Health MSc programme at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. He provides regular medicolegal training for Forensic Higher Trainees. He is a clinical supervisor to Core Trainees in Psychiatry and Higher Trainees in Forensic Psychiatry and is an educational supervisor to Higher Trainees in Forensic psychiatry.
EXPERIENCE OF GIVING EVIDENCE
Dr Hartley has extensive experience preparing psychiatric reports and giving oral evidence in both Crown and Magistrates Courts, as well as the First-Tier Mental Health Tribunals. He also has experience preparing psychiatric reports in civil, immigration and extradition proceedings.
CASES UNDERTAKEN
Dr Hartley has been instructed by the courts, defence and prosecution in relation to a wide range of criminal proceedings including violent offences, sexual offending, stalking, drug offences, arson, and fraud. Instructions have included diagnostic issues, fitness to plead, effective participation, psychiatric defences, capacity to form intent, risk assessment and sentencing recommendations. He has experience as an expert witness in extradition proceedings. Civil cases have included personal injury, employment tribunals, and capacity issues, including capacity to comply with civil orders.
APPOINTMENTS
To schedule a consultation, please contact us via email or enquiry form:
FEES
Please contact us for more information.
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Open to legally aided cases,
subject to availability.