RESIENTS will get the chance to ask questions of the mental health trust responsible for care across south Essex.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) is holding its 2024 Annual Members' Meeting on Thursday, 24 October at Colchester Football Club.

The Trust is currently subject to an investigation that could last up to two years. The ongoing Lampard Inquiry is looking into the causes of more than 2,000 deaths of mental health patients across Essex during a period spanning more than two decades.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the annual meeting, though numbers are limited. Anyone wanting to attend can sign up via an Eventbrite booking page, email [email protected] or call 01268 739739. Tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis. 

Trust Chair Professor Sheila Salmon said: "Our Annual Members' Meeting is a great opportunity for the communities we serve to raise questions and speak directly to Board members, as well as hearing about the Trust's progress over the last year and our future focus as we strive to improve care for the 100,000 people who are using our services at any one time."

The event starts at 5pm with displays and information from teams across the Trust who are involved in new developments and initiatives to improve patient care across EPUT's mental and physical health services.

The meeting itself will begin at 6pm with the formal business of the Trust's Annual Members' Meeting before moving on to presentations on key developments and issues from the EPUT leadership team. There will be time for people to ask questions.

Further information

·       The meeting will take place on 24 October 2024 at the Layer Suite, Colchester Football Club, United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP, from 5pm to 8pm.

·       There is ample free parking at the venue, with accessible parking at the front of the building, and it is also easy to reach by taxi from Colchester train station.

·       There will be free refreshments available throughout the evening.