9 December 2020

After three and a half years I am leaving the Grenfell Health & Wellbeing Service, where I am Clinical Director.

I am taking up a new role, still in CNWL, set up with academic partners for the study of Anxiety, Stress and Trauma.

It has been a privilege, and humbling, to work on the Grenfell response with the community and a pleasure to work with so many impressive and committed colleagues. This experience will always stay with me; I have had the privilege of working with members of the community, with leaders of local third sector organisations and with other statutory organisations. I am in their debt to an extent that I can never repay.

From the very beginning of the Grenfell response Trust staff gave their time and commitment freely. In the early weeks after the fire, many staff volunteered their own time to go into the local community and rest centres and help. Others worked far beyond their normal hours to do their best for those affected by the fire.

It is difficult to put into words just how important that was.

I would like to thank all those at all levels of the Trust for the help and kindness they have shown me.

I am not ending all my ties with Grenfell; I will still be involved in the evaluation of the programme, especially around learning lessons for future major incidents and their impact on ‘population health.’ And I will continue to have some clinical work with those affected by the fire.

I am sure that as the Grenfell response continues to evolve, services provided by the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service and the NHS, will strive to ensure that the people of North Kensington have the services they need and deserve.

Best wishes and thank you.

Editors notes:

David Bailey, who has been involved with the Grenfell response since the day of the fire, will be the clinical lead for the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing service.