I hope you enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend and a huge thank you to our colleagues across NELFT and beyond who worked over the Bank Holiday to ensure our patients and their loved ones received the best possible care. As we head into the extra Bank Holiday weekend for the King’s Coronation I would like to remind you  to check pharmacy service opening hours and any other key information you may require over the long weekend to ensure you have access to everything you need for your care.

I was excited to see the work we are part of in the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative (MSECC) being promoted, including the learning from our virtual wards. The MSECC is currently engaging on our draft strategic plan which sets out our approach to the next phase of working together. It reflects readiness for the longer term system arrangements with a view to adding value and transforming our community health services in mid and south Essex.  Find out more about the Mid and South Essex Community Collaborative here.

We have a number of events coming up this month including the Quality Improvement Learning Event on 15 May. I am looking forward to this event and the opportunity to consider how we take quality improvement to the next level across NELFT. Our LGBT+ Staff Network are hosting an awareness event on 22 May at 1.30pm, for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

This week is Maternal Mental Health Week, organised by The Perinatal Mental Health Partnership and the theme is Together in a Changing World. You can find out more about our Perinatal Parent Infant Mental Health Service (PPIMHS) here. PPIMHS offers specialist healthcare to support and care for pregnant and post-natal women who experience mental illness. It is International Nurses Day on 12 May and we are holding an event to celebrate the impact our nursing colleagues have for our patients and communities. This event is open to all colleagues, not just nurses and will be a great opportunity to share learning, network and celebrate the vital role nurses play in delivering the best care by the best people.

Many thanks

Caroline