Trust Board - January 2026

The Board received updates on patient feedback, including a presentation from the infant feeding team and the impact of their team. A monitoring visit to Jenny Lind ward found patients felt safe and staff went above and beyond, with further work needed on individualised care plans. The CYP Mental Health and Wellbeing Roadmap has launched, and the Care Opinion roll out is now across all services.

• The Mental Health Act 2025 introduces major reforms to strengthen patient rights and reduce inequalities.
• The Strategic Commissioning Framework sets expectations for ICBs to act as long‑term strategic commissioners.
• A government review into mental health, ADHD and autism is underway, with findings to be reported to NHSE.
• A national review of Community Mental Health Services highlights inconsistent access and rising demand, with recommendations to strengthen integrated, person-centred care, providing opportunities for the Trust to review local implementation and partnership working.

• The new organisational strategy continues to be embedded across the Trust.
• The first submission for the 2026/27–2030/31 Medium Term Plan to NHS England was completed in December, with further work underway ahead of the final February submission.

• The Board thanked Veena Allison for her contributions as a Non-Executive Director, who left her role at the end of December.
• Gemma Artz has been appointed as Director of Patient Experience, Digital and Innovation and will join the Trust shortly.
• Board also welcomed Shaun Tudge, new Head of the CEO Office.

• Urgent care performance has improved, and community hospitals continue to maintain flow.
• The Trust remains in NOF segment 3.
• The Trust is no longer in financial deficit and is no longer subject to the financial override applied in Q1. 

• Resident doctor industrial action in December was managed with stability, supported by strong teamwork and regional coordination.

• Temporary staffing use continues to reduce, with no off‑framework usage since April 2025.
• Work continues on safer staffing, vacancy cover and clinical observation requirements.
• The work around Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Equity is showing positive progress with anti racism being a priority. 

• The Board Assurance Framework is being refreshed in line with the new strategic objectives.
• The annual resuscitation report highlighted the need to improve BLS and ILS compliance, with strengthened monitoring now in place.