Publish date: 24 September 2025
West Lo
ndon NHS Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling racial inequality in mental health, by hosting a dedicated event on the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF).
The theme of the event was 'Real Lives, Real Impact: Creating Spaces for Change', and brought together patients, carers, and staff to explore how the Trust is embedding race equality into services and to ensure that lived experience shapes every step of the journey.
The day began with opening remarks from Gillian Kelly, Chief Nurse and Bertha Matunge Deputy Chief Nurse, before a welcome from Chief Executive Maria O’Brien, who emphasised the importance of PCREF as a driver of real and lasting change.
Highlights of the day were:
- A presentation from the Search Project, a Service User Involvement Group, exploring how co-production is informing work on more dignified search practices in secure settings.
- A table talk discussion on how to measure real progress on race equality and ensure open, honest feedback.
- Insights from Talking Therapies on addressing inequalities through the patient journey.
- A powerful session on racial trauma, led by Dr Anne Aiyegbusi, which created space for open conversation on the impact of racism on mental health.
Throughout the event, the message was clear: PCREF is about bringing the framework to life to create meaningful, measurable change.
As one senior leader said:
"This work is not a tick-box exercise. It is about making sure that every patient and carer experiences safe, fair, and compassionate care – and that means listening, learning, and acting together.”
The Trust will now take forward the insights and reflections shared, ensuring they translate into practical actions and sustained progress.