A specialist NHS inpatient mental health service for young people run by the Trust has been visited by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins MP.

This was the Secretary of State’s first visit to a mental health service and she spent time speaking with staff and service users at Evergreen, based on the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital site, on Thursday, January 17.

She was particularly impressed by the work of the unit to support young people to remain connected to their communities, by Evergreen's message of hope, and by the support offered to families. 

Evergreen is a CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) tier 4 inpatient service that opened in February 2023. 

“We see young people come through the door at their most vulnerable,” service manager Valentine Dube told the Secretary of State.

“Being able to help them and make a real difference is what makes this job so rewarding.”