An organisation with more than 140 years’ experience will start providing our patients and their families with advice about their rights and care from today.

Together for Mental Wellbeing – a mental health charity providing independent patient advocacy which aims to help people who’ve experienced mental distress to source independent advice - will work with St Andrew's patients to help them speak up and be heard.

The organisation will support people in St Andrew's care to understand the care and support process, talk about how they feel, make and challenge decisions and stand up for their rights.

The independent service has been contracted to support St Andrew's patients for three years.

As part of the agreement patients can contact Together’s advocates any time they wish to, allowing them to discuss confidentially any concerns or issues they may be having during their stay at St Andrew’s Healthcare.

Together’s CEO Linda Bryant said: “We’re proud to have secured this contract with St Andrew’s and we’re looking forward to working closely with the patients, helping to give them peace of mind when they need it most.

“The people who use our services are at the heart of everything we do. They influence and shape the support they receive from us, and the way our services are run.”

Patients can access the free service via phones which are available on all the wards or they can email them directly: STA@together-uk.org

For more information visit https://www.together-uk.org/our-mental-health-services/advocacy/