Local NHS doctor recognised for research improving care for people with autism and learning disabilities
A psychiatry resident doctor working across Herefordshire and Worcestershire has received national and international recognition for research focused on improving how medication is prescribed for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Dr Tugba Kece, who works at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, recently had her research published in a peer-reviewed publication from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Her work has also been accepted for presentation at the 34th European Congress of Psychiatry – an international conference taking place in Prague in March 2026.A portrait picture of Dr Tugba Kece
Dr Kece’s research supports the STOMP programme (Stopping Over Medication of People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People) – a national NHS initiative that promotes safe and appropriate prescribing.
Working alongside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Dr Kece reviewed how psychotropic medications are prescribed and monitored. These are medicines that can affect mood, behaviour, and thinking. The research looked at clinical rationale for prescribing, the frequency of reviews, and how teams plan the safe reduction or stopping of medication when appropriate.
The work is already informing prescribing practice within CAMHS teams, helping clinicians make safer, more evidence-based decisions. This contributes to better long-term care and reduces the risk of people remaining on medication longer than necessary.