May Trust Board reflections: A message from our Chair and CEO
A joint message from our Chair, Ann Beasley, and Chief Executive, Vanessa Ford MBE, following our latest Trust Board meeting in May.
Following our Trust Board meeting earlier in May, we wanted to share some reflections on the important discussions we had and the decisions we made together.
Wider context
We began by recognising the recent local election results and the wider political changes taking place across London and nationally. Times of change can create uncertainty and anxiety for many people, and we reflected on the impact this can have on our communities, patients and colleagues – particularly those from different cultures, faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
At the meeting, the Board reaffirmed our commitment to our Trust values and to ensuring our inclusion commitments and anti-racism values into actions continue to translate into meaningful support. We know that many people continue to experience discrimination, racism and fear in their daily lives, and we remain committed to creating an organisation where everyone feels safe, respected, valued and able to belong.
Patient story
One of the most powerful moments of the meeting was hearing from a family who shared their experience of trying to access the right care for their son – in particular, how our waiting lists are managed. We are incredibly grateful to them for speaking so openly and honestly about the impact that poor communication and systems that do not work well can have on patients and families at already difficult times. They described a ‘computer says no’ system which was designed to keep people out rather than offer care and treatment.
Their story was a moving reminder to us all of the importance of truly putting patients at the centre of everything we do. It reinforced why listening, communicating clearly, working collaboratively and co-producing services with patients, carers and families wherever possible must remain central to how we improve care. We are grateful that they have offered to support the development of a new and better waiting list process.
Review of last year’s Annual Delivery Plans
The Board also reviewed our end of year performance against our Annual Delivery Plans and reflected on the progress made over the last year. The Board was impressed by the level of delivery achieved across the organisation and the commitment shown by colleagues across our services.While there is always more to do, the discussion recognised the strength of performance and improvement work taking place across the Trust.
We also discussed some of the “amber” ratings within the report. Importantly, these reflect the scale of our ambition as an organisation rather than a lack of progress. We are setting ourselves stretching goals because we want to continue improving care, outcomes and experiences for the people we serve.
Review of our previous Trust strategy
Alongside this, the Board reviewed the final year of our previous Trust strategy and reflected on the progress made over its lifetime. There was a strong story of improvement across many areas, including quality of care, access and activity, reducing health inequalities and improving staff experience. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and partners across our communities.
Agreeing our new Trust Strategy
Finally, we are delighted that the Board formally approved our refreshed five-year Trust strategy. Rooted in our mission of Making Life Better Together, the strategy has been shaped by the voices of patients, carers, staff and partners, and sets out our shared ambitions for the years ahead. It recommits us to increasing quality years, reducing inequalities, making the Trust a great place to work and ensuring long-term sustainability, with partnership at the heart of everything we do.
As we move forward, we look forward to continuing this work together with our communities, staff and partners to bring the strategy to life in practical and meaningful ways.
Ann Beasley
Chair
Vanessa Ford MBE
Chief Executive
