Derby City East

Graeme has lived and worked in Derby since 2011, prior to this he was in the Royal Navy for nearly 20 years. Graeme has lived experience as a carer for his daughter who sadly took her own life. Since then he has become a passionate advocate for mental health. He is determined to help others and support the NHS any way he can. Graeme is involved with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance where he uses his lived experience to help develop awareness of and improvements in suicide prevention. Becoming a Trust Governor has been an aspiration of Graeme’s for some time now as he sees it as a way of giving something back, supporting others and being actively involved in improving mental health services.

I would relish the opportunity to give something back to my local community which I value being part of. My mother spent most of her working career as a nurse, as a father I watched my son being born in NHS care and personally I have been a patient before so feel I have a connection with the system. I want to ensure that patients are the first priority ensuring that they receive effective care from caring, compassionate and committed staff. I will question and hold the Board of Directors to account ensuring openness, transparency and honesty throughout the system, about matters of concern and effectively represent the interests of the members. This is a role which I feel I would thrive in and really push to make a difference. I believe that the NHS is a pillar of our society and an integral part of our everyday lives. I firmly believe it is an institution worth protecting and making sure it is in a constant state of evolution and improvement, and although the financial constraints of the NHS are well known, I want to be a part of the process to help ensure its changes are managed with the best intentions.