Annual Public Meeting 2026: Launching our new Trust strategy
Last week, we welcomed patients, carers, staff, partners, community organisations and members of the public to Springfield University Hospital for our Annual Public Meeting.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the Trust's achievements and challenges over the past year, share progress made during 2025/26 and introduce our new Trust Strategy.
Launching our new Trust Strategy
Presented by Trust Chief Executive, Vanessa Ford, and Deputy Director of Strategy and Transformation, Leah O’Donovan, the strategy sets out our vision and priorities for the years ahead and has been shaped by extensive engagement with staff, service users, carers, partners and local communities. It reflects our shared ambition to improve mental health care, tackle health inequalities and deliver better outcomes for the people we serve.
Through the strategy, we are committing to delivering compassionate, high-quality care, improving access to services, reducing inequalities, strengthening partnerships and supporting people to thrive. It provides a clear framework for how we will continue to develop our services and respond to the changing needs of our communities across south west London.
During the presentation, attendees heard how the strategy will guide the Trust's work over the coming years, helping us build on our strengths while addressing some of the biggest challenges facing mental health services and the communities we serve.
You can find out more about our new Trust Strategy and watch our strategy launch video below.
Read more on our new strategy
Reflecting on the year
Alongside the strategy launch, attendees heard about the Trust's performance during 2025/26, key achievements across our services, and the challenges we continue to face as we work to improve mental health care for local people.
The meeting also included a question and answer session with members of the Trust Board, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and share their views on the future direction of the organisation.
Spotlight on innovation and partnership
The Annual Public Meeting showcased several examples of innovation and partnership working across the Trust and our local communities.
A particular highlight was a presentation from colleagues and carers involved in the Sutton Neurodevelopmental Needs Pilot. Their presentation demonstrated the value of working in partnership with families and carers to develop more responsive and joined-up support for children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs.
Attendees also heard from Trust colleagues involved in our peer debriefing programme. The initiative is helping to create more compassionate and person-centred services by supporting reflection, recovery, advocacy and patient experience, while also contributing to staff wellbeing.
Watch again and access the resources
If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the presentations and discussions, the following resources are now available:
- Watch our new Trust Strategy launch video
- Read more about our new strategy
- Watch the full recording of the Annual Public Meeting
- Read our Annual Report 2025/26
- Read the Annual Report Executive Summary
- Read our Health Inequalities Annual Report
- Read our Quality Account
- View the meeting presentation slides
Join our online Annual Public Meeting
We recognise that not everyone was able to attend the meeting in person.
To help ensure as many people as possible can take part, we will be holding a shorter online Annual Public Meeting and Q&A session on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
The session will provide an opportunity to hear the key messages from the Annual Public Meeting, learn more about our new Trust Strategy and ask questions of the Trust's leadership team.
Register your interest in attending the online session.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's Annual Public Meeting and contributed to the discussions.
Events like these are an important opportunity to reflect on our progress, share our plans for the future and hear directly from the people and communities we serve. We are grateful for the continued support, challenge and insight provided by our service users, carers, staff, partners and local communities.
If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact communications@swlstg.nhs.uk.
