Elizabeth Joan Harbott qualified at the Welsh National School of Medicine in 1957. A post in medicine in Swansea was followed by a period in the Professorial Department of Obstetrics in Cardiff, where she obtained the Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. After a short period in general practice, she returned to hospital medicine as a junior house medical officer, before moving to the George Washington Memorial University Hospital in Washington DC as an internal medicine fellow.

On returning to the UK she became a psychiatric trainee, first at Brookwood Hospital and subsequently at St Luke's branch of the Middlesex Psychiatric Department, where she met her future husband.

Having obtained the DPM, she and Tony moved to Winchester, where Joan took a part-time staff grade post with the Southampton Psychiatric Service. In 1972, she became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, but wishing to remain part-time, she continued in a staff grade post, running out-patient and day-patient services.

When the psychiatric services moved from the mental hospital to the city in 1979, Joan became a senior member of the firm dealing with the eastern half of the city. She frequently acted as a part-time locum consultant in a variable and flexible way, making her one of the most valued and discerning members of the Southampton consultant establishment. This unusual career continued without a break until her retirement in 1991, although she did then occasionally return to clinical work in her characteristically helpful way, when she perceived that there were pressures.

Joan's long-standing service in Southampton enabled her to provide continuity of care to a vast number of patients — a virtue which is all too frequently wanting in modern psychiatric practice. Her considerable clinical acumen generated respect from patients and colleagues alike. On many occasions colleagues on her firm would have cause to be grateful for her unusual perspicacity and discernment.

As a colleague she was generous, obliging and unassuming. Outside medicine her interests were wide, including the Welsh language, history, travel, sailing and cooking, to mention only a few.

Joan died on 28 May, 2001, aged 69, following a tragic and short illness, bravely borne.