Dr Jane Padmore, Chief Exec of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, gave a warm and friendly welcome to their new office at Portland House, close to where the new collection of NHS services will soon open at the revolutionary Worthing Integrated Care Centre, a fantastic legacy of the last Conservative-led council in Worthing.
Her part of the NHS involves 5,000 across our area providing mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services. They matter as much as the acute hospitals and the family doctors. Even though the numbers are large, she has done very well to foster a strong sense of family across the entire trust network.
We discussed important work to increase awareness and support for neurodiversity and autism spectrum disorder. We recognise that it is a new and emerging area of research - an exciting area as we better understand the way people work best. It is not necessarily a medical issue and we should be concerned if it is medicalised.
There needs to be drop-in clinics where caring parents, interested teachers and devoted guardians can self-refer and gain expert guidance, counselling and support.
Work to bring a new SEND school to Worthing has reached an exciting moment as plans move forward on the securing of a site in Durrington. We await positive news soon.
Thank you, Dr Jane and the many dedicated professionals and carers working across the Sussex Partnership Trust. The work you do is impactful, valued and greatly appreciated.
