Denise Porter

Denise Porter, Voluntary & Community Governor
Appointed April 2017

I am Vice Chair of Trustees for Rethink Mental Illness and the regional trustee for Yorkshire & North East. Most importantly I am also a carer for my son, who has schizophrenia for 20 years.

The role of the family and of carers is crucial in supporting someone on their recovery journey. I am a volunteer at Rethink Mental Illness, and through Rethink I became a Carer Commissioner with the Commission to Review the Provision of Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Care for Adults. Its recommendations published in 2016 support the need for rapid access to high quality care.

I became a governor because mental health care is my passion, and I want to support NTW to achieve the very best care possible for those within it. That’s staff, carers and most importantly those who use the care. The voices of those who use our care need to be at the heart of all that is done so that the care truly represents and addresses their needs. Co-production is the key.

The most important role of a governor is to work together to help the trust develop quality, effective processes with those who use those services at the heart of all that is done. I support the trusts ambitions to develop outstanding health care that holds the care of its staff, patients and carers at the heart of all it does.

I can recommend being Governor of NTW as your opinion is valued and it is very rewarding to be part of the trusts transformation and development of high quality mental health care.