Trust says it is moving in the right direction after challenging year

Leaders at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust have acknowledged it has been a difficult year for the organisation, but say improvements in waiting times, patient outcomes and service quality show it is moving in the right direction.

Speaking at the trust's Annual General Meeting on 23 September, Chair Colin Lynch acknowledged it had been a challenging year, but thanked colleagues for their commitment and determination to improve services for local people.

Colin shared: "It's not been the easiest of years. We've had some difficult feedback as a trust and we know we must continue to improve.

"Colleagues who work at the trust are incredibly professional, determined and committed to doing the best for our communities. We should be proud of where we've come to, while remaining open and honest about what still needs to improve.”

The AGM heard how the trust has strengthened governance and quality, lifted all previous CQC warning notices, and delivered improvements across a range of services.

These included reducing the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks for dementia care from 260 to 19, achieving the highest dementia diagnosis rates ever recorded across Kent and Medway, and ensuring 9 in 10 people referred to liaison psychiatry services are seen within 1 hour.

The trust also reported a 64% reduction in serious self-harm incidents on inpatient wards and a 60% reduction in missed appointments.

Leaders reflected that 2026 saw the trust become an all-age mental health provider, bringing children and young people's mental health services and all-age eating disorder services into the organisation.

Chief Executive Sheila Stenson said the trust was in a stronger position than 2 years ago, with greater clarity about its priorities and a clearer plan for improvement.

Sheila shared: "We absolutely recognise that we are a trust on an improvement journey. We've made important progress, but we know there is further to go. We've listened to feedback, acted on it and have a much clearer sense of where we are heading as an organisation."

The AGM also heard that the trust delivered a £2.25 million surplus, invested £17.5 million in new facilities and infrastructure, and provided more than 625,000 patient contacts and 166,000 patient bed days during the year.

Looking ahead, leaders outlined the trust's new five-year strategy, Doing well together, shaped by extensive engagement with staff, patients, carers, communities and partners.

Director of Strategy and Engagement, Kindra Hyttner, said the engagement had revealed a clear set of priorities: timely access to care, safe and high-quality services, positive experiences and greater support to help people stay well and avoid crisis.

A key part of the strategy is the development of neighbourhood health services, bringing mental health expertise into local communities and making mental health support a core part of care delivered through GP practices, neighbourhood teams and wider NHS services.

Sheila reflected: "Mental health has to be at the heart of neighbourhood healthcare. We want people to get support earlier, closer to home and before they reach crisis."

The trust said creating a positive culture and improving experiences for both staff and patients would be central to delivering its ambitions over the next 5 years.