TV psychologist headlines local healthcare celebration day
Prof. Tanya Byron, respected child psychologist and co-host of BBC-TV’ s The House of the Tiny Tearaways, will be the keynote speaker at Dorset HealthCare’s Annual Members’ Meeting next month.
The day of events – which is free to attend and open to the public – will take place on Wednesday, 13 September at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Guests will also be able to enjoy a staff awards ceremony highlighting outstanding patient care, along with a buffet and live music from the Trust’s own staff choir.
But places are limited, so people are advised to book in advance.
Dorset HealthCare provides NHS inpatient and community-based care across Dorset, covering both physical and mental health. The Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM) brings together members, patients, staff and the wider public to reflect on the work of the past 12 months, and look to the year ahead.
This year’s event will have a focus on children’s and young people’s mental health, and the packed agenda will feature a talk by Prof. Byron, who specialises in working with children and adolescents.
She authored the Byron Review, commissioned by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown to examine the effects of the internet and video games on child development. And her therapy skills were showcased on the BBC Three reality show, co-hosted with Claudia Winkleman, which provided help for parents struggling to cope with child behavioural problems.
Prof Byron heads an exciting line-up for the day, which includes the 2017 Dragons’ Den final, where staff pitch innovative ideas for funding to benefit patients. There will also be a buffet and performance by the Dorset HealthCare Choir, feedback from a young people’s workshop run by Healthwatch Dorset, and a look back at advances in local healthcare over the past year.
And the evening will see stellar staff success stories honoured across 13 categories in this year’s Heroes Awards.
Trust Chair Andy Willis said:
“This is an event for the whole community. This year's focus on the health needs of young people will make the event of particular interest to young people themselves, as well as parents and grandparents who would like to learn more about the mental health needs of the next generation.
Everyone is welcome. We link the AMM with a range of other activities to make it a really interesting day, so come along and find out more."
Following a lunch for local carers and Trust volunteers, the main agenda will kick off at 2pm. Guests can attend the whole day or just individual events.