Former minister steps down from trust job

The chair of a leading mental health trust who served as a minister in the coalition government is stepping down.

Sir Norman Lamb is retiring after five years in post at South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust. He will leave the provider in March next year.

The former Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk served as the party’s health spokesman before the 2010 election and then held a ministerial post in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills between 2012 and 2015. He received a knighthood for services to mental health in 2019.

In a letter to staff, SLaM chief executive David Bradley said: “Norman has consistently challenged us to improve the lives of the people who use our services. He has been an incredible champion of the work of the trust, helping us to build ever deeper and more meaningful relationships with our communities and partners.”

Mr Bradley cited Sir Norman’s work on transforming mental health services and reference a successful £5m bid from NHS England to pilot a new approach to community services.

He added: “Alongside this he has been a committed ally for our work on tackling racism in mental health through helping to shape our first ever anti-racism action plan. Norman will leave a rich and deep tapestry of work that will forever be woven into the history of South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust.”