Secretary of State for Health says NHS Trust blazing a trail of innovative ways to target those at risk
Jeremy Hunt, Health and Social Care Secretary, praised the work of NHS staff at our Trust in what he described as conditions that are ‘tougher than they’ve ever been’ for the NHS.
Mr Hunt visited the Trust’s Caludon Centre in Coventry on 1 March 2018, to meet and talk to staff. He spoke highly of the initiatives being put in place to improve patient safety and improve access to early help for mental health problems.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said: “Every suicide is a tragedy and there are still too many patients taking their own lives. Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust is blazing a trail across the NHS to reduce this by finding innovative ways to target the most at risk groups and working with other agencies locally - a vital step towards achieving my ambition of zero suicides in inpatient mental health services.”
Mr Hunt went on to praise the Trust’s ‘It Takes Balls To Talk’ campaign which aims to encourage men to talk about their own mental health, even when they may find it difficult. He pointed out that only 18% of people go through life with no mental health problem at all.
Dr Mike Durkin, Senior Advisor on Patient Safety Policy and Leadership at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, joined Mr Hunt on his visit. Dr Durkin reminded staff that they ‘play a small but vitally important part in the lives of their patients’ and that good communication is key.
Staff at the Trust appreciated the opportunity to ask Mr Hunt questions, which he answered candidly and openly, acknowledging the challenges the NHS faces.
Jagtar Singh, Chair at our Trust, said: “We very much appreciated the positive reflections the Secretary of State for Health made regarding the great work our staff are doing. We were particularly encouraged by his emphasis on prevention and encouraging people to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.”
Simon Gilby, Chief Executive at our Trust, said: “We were very pleased to welcome Mr Hunt to our Trust and for the opportunity to engage in dialogue with him about our shared ambition to provide safe and high quality services to all the people of Coventry and Warwickshire.”