Local people’s thoughts and opinions about NHS mental health services are being sought at a meet and greet event being held in Spalding on Tuesday 1 July 2008.

Two local Governors from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – which provides mental health, substance misuse and learning disabilities services across the county – are hosting a free, informal meeting which is open to anyone to attend.

The session is being held at 4pm for a 4.15pm start at the Riverside Resource Centre, 15a High Street, Spalding, and is an ideal opportunity for members of the public, service users, carers and staff to let the Governors know what their thoughts are about NHS mental health, substance misuse and learning disability services in the area.

There will also be the opportunity to find out about the roles Gail and Margaret play at the Trust.

Gail works in South Holland and Boston as an Approved Social Worker and represents staff members in the Adult Mental Health and Social Care division, while Margaret is the voice for Older Adult Service Users and lives in Gosberton Risegate.

Every NHS Foundation Trust has a Board of Governors who represent the views and opinions of members.

Governors represent the interests and views of local people and raise members’ concerns, act as ambassadors for the Trust and scrutinise the Trust’s performance to ensure that agreed plans are carried out properly.

Gail Frankowski said: “The meeting is an ideal opportunity for us to meet with members of the public, carers, service users and Trust staff. We will be explaining what our roles as Governors are, and give people the opportunity to raise their issues or opinions with us so we can either answer them straightaway or take back to Board of Governor meetings for further discussion.

“Governors are the key link between members of the public and the Trust’s Board of Directors and can have a huge influence on the future direction of the Trust and which types of services are implemented where. Therefore, it is vital that if people would like to be involved and contribute their thoughts, they come along and meet us.”

Gail and Margaret are two of 32 Governors across the county who represent Foundation Trust members and work in partnership with the Board of Directors (which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Trust and its strategic development) and agree what needs to be done to meet the needs of the community.

Foundation Trusts are still part of the NHS, but unlike ordinary NHS trusts, they are run as independent public benefit corporations similar to mutual organisations such as the Co-op or building societies. The key difference is that NHS Foundation Trusts are run locally – being an NHS Foundation Trust control is transferred away from the Government to the local community.

Staff, patients, service users, carers, partner organisations and the public all have the opportunity to become members, and thereby the owners, of the Trust.