24/03/2026
Reflecting on some incredible work led by the and that has been happening quietly in the background over the past few months—work that feels more important now than ever.
It has been a privilege to be part of this journey as a patient partner alongside such a committed and compassionate group of people across the system.
What started as a deep dive into the experiences of frequent A&E attendees has grown into something much bigger—bringing together teams across acute care, mental health, community services, local authorities, and the voluntary sector to truly listen, learn, and begin shaping better, more joined-up ways of supporting people.
This kind of collaboration isn’t easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight but Bianca Viegas and Elaine Lacon's hard work showed what is possible. It takes honesty, lived experience, and a shared willingness to do things differently. But it’s exactly what’s needed in the challenging times we’re all navigating.
The real impact of this work will continue to unfold, and we're proud to be part of it.
Hertfordshire County Council Hertfordshire Mind Network NHS