From Boardroom to Frontline: How Board Priorities Shape Better Care
Delivering more consistent, integrated care
Our discussions were grounded in the patient story we heard from Patient K, who spoke openly about her experiences of care at the Maudsley. She spoke about her recent positive experiences, where she was supported following her discharge from hospital with occupational therapy and her care coordinator, who has supported her to stay in the community without needing to be readmitted. She also talked about experiencing disjointed care – being discharged without support, feeling bounced from service to service, and long waiting lists – and how that had negatively affected her mental health.
Hearing K talk about her care was a powerful reminder that behind every decision the Trust makes are real people, whose lives and recovery are shaped by the quality and continuity of our care. When we are discussing the Trust’s priorities, from how we modernise our patient record systems to improving discharge processes, we are united by a shared ambition: to make it easier for teams to work together around each individual patient, so people feel supported, informed and cared for at every stage of their journey. As Chair, my role is to help create the conditions for great care, strengthening how we work together, and keeping patients at the heart of every decision we make.
Listening to our communities as we refresh our strategy
Alongside improving consistency in care, I strongly believe that our future direction must be shaped by the voices of the communities we serve. As part of our strategy refresh, the Trust is hosting a series of engagement events to hear from members of the public about our priorities and plans for the coming years.
These events are an opportunity for open and honest conversation. We want to hear about what is working well, where we need to improve, and what they expect from their local mental health services. Listening carefully to these perspectives is essential if we are to develop a strategy that is grounded in real experience and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities.
Our online consultation is now open, and we are hosting events in Croydon and Southwark; I would encourage anyone who is interested to attend. The feedback we receive will help shape our priorities and strengthen our accountability as a Trust. Find out more: Shape our Trust Strategy
Strengthening transparency and accountability in our governance
Being responsive to our communities also means being open about how decisions are made. That is why we have changed the way our Board meetings are run, opening each meeting with the public session first.
This change reflects the importance we place on transparency, listening and accountability. It gives members of the public the opportunity to hear directly about our work, understand the challenges we face, and see how we are responding to the issues that matter to you.
Transparency is fundamental to building trust. Opening up our Board meetings in this way is one part of our wider commitment to openness and continuous improvement.
Dates and details of future Board meetings are published on our website , and meetings can be joined either in person or online. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the Trust to get involved and see our governance in action.
