30 years of South West London and St. George’s
This year we are delighted to be celebrating 30 years of South West London and St. George’s! 
Our Trust was first established in 1994 as The Pathfinder National Health Service NHS Trust before changing to its current name in 1999. So much more has changed over the past three decades - across our sites and our services, but also in terms of attitudes to mental health and mental illness.
This year we will be celebrating the changing face of South West London and St George’s by sharing the stories of the people who know it best, our staff, as we build up to our official birthday on 12 December.
Support our Trust charity
To mark this occasion we are inviting our whole community to join us in paying tribute to our amazing staff by supporting our Trust charity. The charity delivers a range of projects and activities that support our staff and patients above and beyond what the NHS can fund.
Whether you make a donation, attend an event, or fundraise for us, your support will make a positive contribution to the mental health recovery of our local communities.
Click here to find out more about our charity.
Celebrating our people
Suresh Desai
Suresh Desai
Recreation Manager, Tolworth
1987 – 2024 (37 years)
Suresh Desai is one of the longest-serving staff members in our trust, with over 35 years of dedicated service. Having worked in the NHS since 1972, his unwavering commitment has been instrumental in our Trust's journey as we celebrate its 30th birthday.
Suresh reflects on some of his most memorable moments since joining our Trust:
Q. What are some of your favourite memories from your time at our Trust?
“The Springfield site was such a beautiful location. The biggest change of all has been witnessing its transformation. I will always remember the beautiful grounds and golf course.”
“The site and services have expanded. We now look after five boroughs, and the number of mental health services we provide has significantly increased and expanded.”
“I will always cherish the pantomimes we held 20 years ago, performed by both staff and patients each year.”
“The oak doors of all Springfield buildings were beautiful.”
“We've always been a trust with friendly staff who get along well.”
Q. What motivates you to continue serving the community after all these years?
“Personally, seeing that we provide one of the best mental health services across five boroughs is a great motivator. Witnessing the positive changes over the years and knowing our patients’ lives have improved is very satisfying.”
“The wonderful staff inspire and motivate me. I love helping people and I thrive on the challenges.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the NHS?
“The NHS is the crown of this country, often taken for granted. It's a large organisation, so depending on what you want to do, there are many opportunities to learn and establish yourself.”
“Being part of such a precious organisation, I hope you will contribute to the development of the service.”
“The NHS will be there for you from cradle to knee.”
Q. Who has been the most influential figure in your journey at our Trust, and why?
“Within the Trust, I have been fortunate to be recognised for what I have to offer. The people who have inspired me the most are good managers who recognised my skills, helped with my development, mentored me, and addressed my shortcomings.”
“Raye Downer has been particularly inspiring with his dedication and charm.”
Q. In three words, describe your experience working in the NHS?
“Fulfilling, satisfying, challenging, and rewarding.”
Join us in celebrating Suresh Desai’s incredible journey and contributions to our Trust!
Making Life Better Together
As a leading mental health Trust we have so much to reflect on:
- Supporting a £1bn investment across healthcare and urban development by transforming our estate
- Providing one of only three centres nationally for specialist mental healthcare for people who are Deaf, Blind and hearing- or sight-impaired
- Partnering to establish a leading Provider Collaborative delivering a range of specialist and national mental health services in South London
- Providing nationally and internationally renowned services for obsessive compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder
- Harnessing the power of our community to turn the tide on the mental health impacts of Covid-19 through the South London Listens programme
- Delivering innovative programmes like the Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project to tackle health inequalities and work towards becoming an anti-racist organisation
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And transforming community mental health services to help more people live well and stay well in their communities, closer to their friends and families.
As we look ahead to the next 30 years, we are committed to delivering the best possible clinical services, that help people with mental health conditions live well and stay well in the community – the right care, at the right time, in the right place. When people do need to come into hospital, we are continuing work to transform our environments to create modern healthcare facilities that will serve residents across Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston, Sutton and Merton for generations to come.
Across these innovations we are working to reduce the stigma around mental ill health to create inclusive services that aim to be actively anti-racist and we are determined to address entrenched health inequalities and ensure service users experience fairness equality of access, treatment and outcomes. Together we will continue to deliver on our Trust mission, Making Life Better Together.