Lucy Harding Email & Phone Number

I aim to promote and use my lived experience of mental health disorders and autism within the NHS. I was very passionate about challenging a medical model of care as a St Ann’s Hospital Eating Disorder service user from 2015-2016, by questioning historic ‘blanket rules’ and advocating for my own individualised care. After becoming an Expert by Experience for the trust in 2019, I began sharing my lived experiences to a much broader range of staff within the trust. For example, attending steering groups for the redevelopment of St Ann’s Hospital (now Blossom Court), attending interview panels for new recruits, and presenting my experience at the trust AGM in 2020.I started my career in healthcare as a Peer Worker for Blossom Court (acute mental health), supporting service users on their own recovery journeys, often as an ally or advocate. I was able to bridge a significant gap between patients and medical staff, and offered a unique perspective to my colleagues within the wards and beyond. I was recently working within St Ann’s Eating Disorder Service, and felt honoured to be a part of a supportive and holistic MDT. I co-facilitated three peer support groups, managed a diverse caseload of inpatients and outpatients, and have co-delivered workshops and presentations.I’m currently a Patient Safety Partner; this is a new role introduced as part of the NHSE Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, with an aim to include lived experience voices within patient safety. I work in the Patient Safety Team at North London Mental Health Partnership, based at St Ann’s Hospital.I’m also interested in exploring the benefits of art within healthcare, as a Fine Art graduate myself, and will continue to encourage investment and support for creativity and innovation in mental health services!