New name for county-wide mental health service

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust has changed its name to Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust in a move to help people across the county access mental health care.

The change follows more than a year of listening to patients, families, colleagues, and partners. Feedback showed the previous name was confusing and did not reflect the trust’s focus on mental health. Including mental health in the new name makes it easier for everyone to understand who the trust is, find help and access support.

The trust provides mental health services across Kent and Medway, supporting adults with a wide range of mental health needs in both hospital and community settings. From spring 2026, it will also bring together children and young people’s mental health services and all-age eating disorder services, giving families a single point of access. This will make support clearer, more consistent, and easier to navigate across the county.

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive of Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “Today marks a new chapter for mental health care in Kent and Medway. Our new name is simple, clear and honest. It shows who we are and what we do. But this change is about more than a name.

“We want every person to feel supported, respected and understood. Families should find it easy to know where to go for help. And our communities should have confidence that they will receive care that is compassionate, consistent and close to home.”

The new name marks the start of a journey to make mental health care in Kent and Medway simpler, more joined-up, and easier to trust. It reflects the trust’s commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care guided by its new values: caring, inclusive, curious, and confident.

This change also supports the wider NHS ambition for services that are joined-up, person-centred, and easy to navigate. The new identity helps the trust deliver that ambition, from improving patient experience to ensuring communications are inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

People may still see the previous name on some signs or letters while the change happens gradually. It is still the same dedicated teams delivering the care.

For more information, visit: www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk