South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust Chief Executive, Vanessa Ford awarded MBE
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is delighted to announce that its Chief Executive, Vanessa Ford, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her services to mental health nursing.
Reflecting on receiving the MBE, Vanessa commented: “This honour recognises the incredible work of people across our Trust – our patients, their carers, our staff and our communities. I am fortunate to work alongside diverse, talented and compassionate people who work tirelessly to reduce the stigma of mental ill health and improve care for all of our communities. Receiving this award is an absolute honour, and one that belongs to us all.”
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust Chair, Ann Beasley, commented on behalf of the Board: “Vanessa’s dedication, integrity, and focus on making life better for our communities have transformed our organisation for the communities we serve. Her commitment to anti-racism, inclusion, and reducing stigma has created meaningful change. We are delighted to see her achievements recognised at a national level.”
The Trust’s Chair, Board, and colleagues have warmly congratulated Vanessa on this national honour, recognising her commitment to inclusion and anti-stigma, strategic vision, and compassionate leadership.
During Vanessa’s time as Chief Executive, our Trust has:
- Completed the £250m development of two new hospitals, Trinity and Shaftesbury, at Springfield University Hospital, and overseen the £1bn creation of Springfield Village, with 1200 new homes, a 32-acre park and shops and cafes in the heart of the London Borough of Wandsworth
- Strengthened its ‘Good’ CQC rating
- Passionately advocated for equity, inclusivity, and anti-racism in its mental health services
- Reduced vacancies from 22% to 8% and turnover from 18% to 10%, whilst seeing improved staff experience reported in the NHS Staff Survey, with significantly more staff saying that care is our organisation’s top priority
In addition to leading South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, Vanessa is the Lead Chief Executive for London Mental Health Strategy for NHS London Region, the Senior Responsible Officer for Mental Health in South West London, and the Chief Place Officer for the Borough of Merton. She plays a pivotal role in shaping mental health strategy across London, championing service transformation, and advocating for the needs of London’s diverse communities.
