Trust launches five-year strategy to improve mental health care across Kent and Medway

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has launched a new five-year strategy setting out how it will make mental health care easier to access, use and trust, helping the people of Kent and Medway stay well and live well with their mental health.

The strategy, Doing well together, sets out a clear shift in how the trust will work over the next five years. Moving from waiting to earlier support, from disconnected services to more joined-up care, from varied care to consistent high quality, and from focusing only on treatment to helping people stay well in their communities.

Shaped by two years of feedback from patients, carers, colleagues and partners, it sets out how the trust will focus on the areas people have said matter most - improving access to services, making services safe, better communication and the quality of care more consistent care.

Sheila Stenson, Chief Executive, Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust said: “From listening to our patients and colleagues, we know where people want us to focus. They want to be seen faster, in places they can access easily, and a service they can trust. We know we haven’t always got this right and our new strategy will enable us to focus on delivering a number of critical priorities well.

“Through the development of our strategy, we have been honest about where we are, and we are taking practical steps to improve care and experience. We’re on a journey, and we’re committed to working together with patients, carers and partners to make a real difference.”

The new strategy focuses on making practical, meaningful improvements that patients and families will see and feel over time.

The strategy also aligns with the long-term direction of the NHS, supporting the ambition set out in the 10-year health plan to deliver more care closer to home, improve access, and provide more joined-up, person-centred support.

Over the next five years, the trust will focus on more consistent and safe care, improving how people experience services, and strengthening joint working with NHS, local authority and community partners to provide more joined-up care closer to home.

The trust will also work with local partners and patients to develop community led approaches to helping people stay well.

To find out more about the strategy, and how we’re delivering for the people of Kent and Medway, please visit our website.