This week I have the pleasure of deputising for Jacqui, while she takes some well-deserved leave. I am just back from annual leave myself and it has been lovely to come back to the buzz across the organisation about our CQC rating of Good. I would like to take this chance to thank you all for the work you do each day to support the delivery of the best care by the best people. I am looking forward to working on our improvement areas as we continue our journey towards outstanding.

It’s been great to see our Cavendish Square Group #OpenYourMind campaign go from strength to strength over the last week given it is exam results season and the campaign aims to signpost young people to appropriate mental health support. Thank you to Dr Leon Wehncke, who supports young people in our Brookside unit for supporting the work from a clinical perspective and for acting as a media spokesperson. Was good to hear Leon live on the Vanessa Feltz show on BBC Radio 2 yesterday and fingers crossed there will also be coverage on BBC London TV news this evening.  I am always so proud of the work colleagues do daily across NELFT and it is extra heartening to see us leading the way with work beyond the Trust to make real impacts.

I was lucky enough to take a couple of days annual leave at the start of this week in order to look after my grandson and granddaughter. It was lovely to spend time with them and they are at an age where I really enjoy there company and we had loads of fun together.  I was lucky enough to take a couple of days annual leave at the start of this week in order to look after my grandson and granddaughter. It was lovely to spend time with them and they are at an age where I really enjoy there company and we had loads of fun together. 

It has been another busy week here at NELFT and on Tuesday we held our public Board meeting. We opened the meeting with a patient journey and I am so grateful to Bridget, who was supported by her daughter Margaret, for joining us to share her experiences. Bridget has used mental health services for most of her life and most recently, at 81 years young, she has been supported by our memory service at Broad Street in our Barking and Dagenham directorate.

Firstly, a huge thank you to all our colleagues and partners for all your efforts as you have been working through the heatwave! I know it has been really tough to work in the recent hot weather. I am hoping that the weather will be cooling down over the coming days, at least for the foreseeable future. I really appreciate your efforts in ensuring that our most vulnerable patients have been well supported over the last few days.