People, purpose and place: Celebrating 30 years of South West London and St. George’s
Today we mark a significant milestone in our Trust’s history - our 30th birthday!
It is a day to reflect on the contributions of our amazing staff, carers, volunteers and patients, who all make our Trust the special place it is.
From delivering compassionate care, to co-designing new services and hospitals, tackling Health Inequalities, and being committed to active anti-racism, I am so proud to lead the 3,000 people delivering our services across South West London.
Our work has never been more important. One in four of us experience mental ill health in a given year, and one in six will experience common issues like depression and anxiety over a week.
We know experience and outcomes are poorer if you are from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background, and we know that people from these communities are nearly four times more likely to be subject to the use of restrictive practice in their care.
As we move forward, we do so with greater awareness of these challenges than ever before. This is matched by a determination to tackle the inequalities, redress the injustices and support more people to get the timely help they need to recover and thrive.
It has been quite a journey since our Trust began life as the ‘Pathfinder National Health Service NHS Trust’ in 1994. Since then, as well changing our name, new services, technologies and investments have transformed our Trust for the better.
We have established a leading Provider Collaborative with our partners delivering a range of Specialist and National services, developed new forms of crisis and rehabilitation support, and transformed our community services to provide better care closer to home.
We are now half-way through our £280m journey to deliver new mental health hospitals across South West London, creating better environments for generations of people who will rely on our services.
We are thinking more about our role as an ‘Anchor’ organisation, adding social value, tackling mental health stigma and supporting the 1.2m people we serve to be healthier, happier and greener. And we continue to harness the power of our communities to tackle the barriers to good health through our joint leadership of the South London Listens programme.
This was born out of our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the greatest challenges in our history, when we came together and showed the power of kindness and compassion to support our communities.
The pandemic again highlighted enduring inequalities and tackling these is now a key part of South London Listens.
More broadly, we have a clearer picture of the gaps in access, treatment and outcomes. We do not underestimate the work needed to close these in the years ahead and we are proud of the progress we have made so far, together with our community, through our Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project.
Prevention continues to be another key focus. In 2010 we set up the country’s first ‘Recovery College’ delivering a range of courses supporting self-care and blazing a trail for 30 more to be established in NHS Trusts across the country.
We have also trained 400 people across our communities in Mental Health First Aid skills and awareness, breaking mental health stigma, boosting mental health literacy and giving people the knowledge and skills to talk about mental health openly.
Through all of our work, our Patient Involvement Network and its 400 members continue to play a key role. Alongside our 98 volunteers and 50 Peer Support Workers, they ensure the lived experience and the voices of people with mental ill health and their carers are central everything we do. I want to say a special thank you for all this means to our Trust and our community.
Our mission, Making Life Better Together, means improving the experiences of everyone who works in or relies on our services. It guides everything we do and is underpinned by the energy, skills and enthusiasm of people from all corners of our community.
From starting my training here as nurse in 1996, to having the privilege of being our Trust’s Chief Executive today, I have seen us achieve so much together in the past 30 years.
Here’s to the next 30 and a great future for our NHS in South West London!
