Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, the county’s mental health and learning disability service provider, is appealing for local people to get involved and become a member.
The Trust currently has 5611 members and is encouraging more people to join up to have their say on how services are delivered in their area and be involved in their future direction. It is hoped that by August, the Trust will have reached its target of 6000 public members.
1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problems, so many people, their friends and families will be affected. Members are integral to the Trust, especially as it aspires to become a Foundation Trust equivalent, which will see it become fully accountable to local communities. The intention is to recruit over 15,000 people. More than 6000 Trust staff are also members.
Margaret recently signed up to become a member. She is a service user and sees membership as a chance to become involved and a really important step forward both for the Trust and for helping with her ongoing recovery.
Margaret said; “People think that when you have mental health problems it means that you’re not intelligent. They talk down to you a lot or don’t talk to you and avoid you instead. Becoming a member means I can meet other people like me – it’s difficult being on my own.”
Margaret hopes to become involved in activities at the Involvement Centre at the Trust’s headquarters at Duncan Macmillan House, starting with joining the ‘Tuesday Group’, an informal get together to discuss what is happening across the Trust and a chance to meet with other people.
Margaret continues: “Gladys, who is already a member and part of the Involvement Team encouraged me to sign up. I want to help to fight the stigma surrounding mental health. It can take many forms and be very subtle and can affect everyone in different ways. I’m grabbing this opportunity as something really positive. A lot of people want to shove mental health under the carpet and ignore it. This is important – there are always new ways to look at things and move forward. I would encourage other people like me to get involved too.”
Membership is free of charge. Members receive information about the Trust and can get involved in meetings, events and other activities, to make a real impact on how the Trust develops its services and future plans. Members are also able to stand for election to become Governors of the Foundation Trust equivalent should they wish.
Mike Cooke, Chief Executive said: “I am so pleased that we are continuing to attract people to join the Trust membership. We want to involve the public, our service users and their carers and families in all stages of our work and future plans. Everyone has a valid view and ideas to share and we want to hear from you. The only way that we can best serve local communities is if you tell us what you need. So please do join and find out how you can make a difference.”
The Trust’s public consultation to become a Foundation Trust equivalent is underway and members of the public can give their views until 24 July 2009. To find out more about Foundation Trust equivalence and to sign up as a member visit http://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/our-foundation-trust-application/how-to-get-involved, telephone 0115 993 4567, or email involve@nottshc.nhs.uk
