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
Click below to view the profiles of some of our longest-serving staff members -
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!
Michael Boyce
Specialist Family Interventions Therapist - Early Intervention Service Wandsworth
1997 – 2024 (27 years)
As we celebrate our Trust's 30th birthday, we recognise the invaluable contributions of long-serving staff 
members like Michael Boyce. Since joining as a Support Worker in 1997, Michael has created many memorable experiences.
Michael shares some of his most memorable moments at our Trust:
Q. What are some of your favourite memories from your time at our Trust?’
“I remember taking a client to France soon after I joined the Trust as a Support Worker back in 1997, It was a great experience for us both. Being part of setting up a home treatment team in Kingston and Richmond in 2004 was also memorable. "
"However, my proudest moment was probably when I joined the Wandsworth Early Intervention Service in 2006."
Q. What motivates you to continue serving the community after all these years?
"Colleagues, clients, and carers. It really feels like you are doing something worthwhile and positive feedback reaffirms this."
Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the NHS?
"Try to find out as much as you can about what options are open to you to progress your career."
Q. Who has been the most influential figure in your journey at our Trust, and why?
"My manager, deputy manager, and clinical supervisor have been fairly constant figures in recent years. However, my deputy manager showed me from day one how to care compassionately and effectively for our clients."
"My manager demonstrates how you can manage staff in a humane way and gets results simply by being genuine."
Q. In three words describe your experience working in the NHS?
"Life-changing, satisfying, and proud."
Debbie Stinson
Consultant – Sutton Older People CMHT
1999 – 2024 (25 years)
Debbie Stinson has been a valued member of our Trust for 25 years. Since she started in 1999, her commitment to exceptional patient care and support for the community has been a constant throughout her time with us.
Looking back on her time with the Trust, Debbie shares:
Q. What are some of your favourite memories from your time at our Trust?’ 
“There are almost too many to mention, but I’d have to say the laughs and the team camaraderie which keep us going.”
Q. What motivates you to continue serving the community after all these years?
"What motivates me most to continue serving is our patients and their families.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the NHS?
"Although the NHS can be challenging at times, bear with it. Even when you don’t realise it or it seems a very small thing, what you do can make a real difference.”
Q. Who has been the most influential figure in your journey at our Trust, and why?
“For me personally the very first CEO, who helped me see the bigger picture of the NHS.”
Q. In three words describe your experience working in the NHS?
“Difficult to limit to three! Challenging, rewarding, team working.”
Kistnen Kiswah
Community Psychiatric Nurse, Merton OPMH CMHT
1996 – 2024 (28 years)
Kistnen Kiswah has been a devoted member of our Trust for nearly three decades, serving as a Community Psychiatric 
Nurse within the Merton Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) Community Mental Health Team. His long-standing commitment has been instrumental in supporting the mental well-being of older adults in the community.
Kistnen 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?
“Working in the same team for 28 years has been a wonderful experience. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships with my colleagues and clients, which has made my journey truly special.”
Q. What motivates you to continue serving the community after all these years?
“The positive feedback from the clients I’ve worked with keeps me going. Knowing that I’ve been able to make a difference in their lives is incredibly rewarding and motivates me to continue.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the NHS?
“Settle into your team and persevere. Challenges will come, but overcoming them is part of the journey, and it makes you stronger.”
Q. Who has been the most influential figure in your journey at our Trust, and why?
“The consultants’ psychiatrists have been the most influential figures in my journey, their guidance and expertise have contributed to my professional growth.”
Q. In three words, describe your experience working in the NHS?
“Happy, rewarding and influential.”
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Yvonne Beckford
Yvonne Beckford
CAMHS Senior Child Mental Health Worker
2000 – 2024 (24 years)
Yvonne Beckford has been an invaluable member of our Trust for nearly 25 years, serving as a Senior Child Mental Health Worker within our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Her unwavering dedication has been central to supporting the mental well-being of young Deaf individuals and fostering a compassionate environment for their growth and recovery.
Reflecting on her time with us, Yvonne shares:
Q. What are some of your favourite memories from your time at our Trust?’
“There are so many! When I first started at the old Corner House, we used to take the children out to the ward’s in-house green area, where there were some apple trees. We would
pick apples, bring them back to the ward, and bake with the children.”
Q. What motivates you to continue serving the community after all these years?
“Seeing young Deaf kids recover and move forward with their lives.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the NHS?
“Always make sure communication is at the forefront of your care. Communicating and engaging with patients clearly and effectively is paramount to a successful treatment.”
Q. Who has been the most influential figure in your journey at our Trust, and why?
“I have been inspired by all the wonderful, hardworking Deaf staff who began as Health Care Assistants, worked hard in their studies, and advanced to become RMNs, Band 6s, OTs, and even Managers.”
“They make me proud and remind me that all my years of commitment to young Deaf service users have been truly worthwhile.”
Q. In three words describe your experience working in the NHS?
“Supportive, collaborative, inspiring.”
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.