North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust have welcomed three local members of parliament and a government minister to the trust over the last month. This continues the trust’s programme of welcoming stakeholders and decision-makers to Combined Healthcare.
On Friday 28 February, two of the local Members of Parliament, Allison Gardner MP and David Williams MP, visited us for the first time. Both were elected to Parliament in the 2024 General Election.
This was followed on Monday 3 March by the first visit to the trust of a serving government minister. Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, was accompanied by Gareth Snell MP.
It was a pleasure to be able to showcase some of our outstanding services to our visitors, including the Edward Myers Unit, Ward 3 and our peer support workers.
The visit by our local MPs also gave us the opportunity to discuss a number of issues, including the absence of mental health trusts from the NHS 28-day discharge framework and funding arrangements for capital investment. They were particularly interested in our digital innovations in virtual reality walkthroughs of our premises and digital translators on wheels in Ward 3. We were also able to bring their attention to the excellent work being carried out in partnership through our community lounges.
It was very rewarding to hear the positive reaction for Baroness Merron throughout her visit and her comments on the quality of services at Combined. She also expressed her recognition and appreciation of the culture of inclusion and excellence that we have built up over many years at the trust.
Many thanks to our staff in these services for their participation and contribution.
