Thank you, Paul Farrimond
On 31 December 2025 Paul Farrimond, NED for LSCFT and Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Trust Quality Committee will leave us after six years at LSCFT. Paul has been with the Trust as a Board member for two terms of office, each lasting three years and has now sadly reached the end of his time with us.
I want to acknowledge not just Paul as a really great Board member and thank him for his time with LSCFT which has been a pleasure, but also for his service the NHS. He has contributed his knowledge, his wisdom and honesty, his love for patient care not just in LSCFT but many different places in the NHS, including provider trusts, NHS England and with national leaders.
Paul is a trusted colleague, described as: welcoming, kind, generous with a heart of gold. An all-round good guy with the generosity of spirit in abundance.
Thank you, Paul, from the Board for all you have done for patients and families, your independence of thought and spirit and your commitment throughout your time to keeping us safe. You will be missed.
Welcome Gail Briers.
As Paul departs, it is with an absolute pleasure that I welcome Gail Briers onto the Board of LSCFT. On 15 December, Gail will join us in an additional role to that at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust where she holds the post of Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director. Gail has been appointed with a term of three years, as Non-executive Director and will take over as Chair of the Quality Committee on her arrival, using her 40 years' experience working in the NHS in a variety of clinical and leadership roles to add a wealth of knowledge to our Board.
Gail is a registered mental health nurse and has held positions of chief nurse and deputy chief executive in neighbouring mental health organisations in addition to her role as a NED in the quality improvement organisation AQuA. Her experience in the areas of improvement will be a real asset to us as we drive transformation, improvement and continuous learning through LSCFT in 2026. Gail is passionate about communities and supporting colleagues to deliver the very best services.
I hope that you join me in wishing Paul well for the future and welcoming Gail to our team at LSCFT.
Thank you,
David Fillingham, Chairman
