David George Arthur Westbury

David George Arthur Westbury (12 September 1923 – 7 June 1983) was an English physician. He was described in his obituary by the Royal College of Psychiatrists as a "founding father of British forensic psychiatry".

David Westbury was born on 12 September 1923 in Rugby, Warwickshire, and educated at Rugby School. He qualified MBBS in 1947.

Career He was appointed first to St Audry's Hospital, Melton, Suffolk and then to Hellesdon Hospital, Norwich. In 1959, he gained the diploma in psychiatry and in 1971 he was elected to the foundation membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and became a fellow in 1976. As a member of the Prison Medical Services from 1964, he was appointed medical officer at HM Prison Durham until 1967, when he joined the Home Office as consultant forensic psychiatrist. In this post, he was credited with establishing the academic discipline of forensic psychiatry in the northern region, and for teenage male offenders, created the forensic psychiatry centre at the Winterton Hospital, Sedgefield. He was a medical member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and continued to teach his specialty for several years.

Death and legacy In 1973, Westbury became severely ill with a heart condition. Disabled by his condition, he took early retirement in 1981. He died in London

The David Westbury Centre, a forensic psychiatry unit specialising in the treatment of adolescents (aged 12–16 years) who have psychological and maladaptive behaviour problems, an establishment he founded, is named in his honour.

Selected publications "Forensic Psychiatry in Britain: Its Potentials". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 13, Issue 3 (1969), pp. 165–176.