GOVERNOR PROFILE
HITTING THE
GROUND RUNNING TASHI THORNLEY
Service User Governor
I
remember becoming a student rep – and the realisation that you were accountable. But it was my passion. I wanted to make the positive changes students told me they wanted, like water fountains in the 24 hour library which we worked hard and got. They struggled to afford study books, so I set up a second hand book shop. They also asked for a way of acknowledging tutors so we set up an awards programme and called it the Golden Robes – it’s still going strong today.
COME AND
I always believed from being a student that there’s no point in being negative and complaining about something we feel isn’t right – for me it’s about coming up with a solution. I love running – my idols were Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe. But my mental health hasn’t been too good and I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital. I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in 2103. It’s a horrible diagnosis. It’s quite new and people don’t know what it is so there’s a lot of stigma. I think service users should be involved in developing our services. My care has really helped me become recovery focussed. It was a community mental health nurse who recommended I put myself forward for the governor role to work on behalf of other service users.
JOIN US
Our next members’ event will take place at Golden Miller Suite, Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road Liverpool L9 5AS on Friday 28 February 2020 from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. If you would like to attend this event RSVP to Christy.Ryder@merseycare.nhs.uk or call 0151 473 2921.
Being an elected representative means working hard for the people you represent, but I’m looking forward to it! Getting people engaged is my passion. I won’t shy away, no matter how I feel. I have a responsibility.
My care has really helped me become recovery focussed. To learn more about our Council of Governors, go to merseycare.nhs.uk
Find out more about our membership and governors at: Website: merseycare.nhs.uk. Phone: 0151 471 2303 or 0151 473 2778 Email: membership@merseycare.nhs.uk Write to: Alison Bacon, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, V7 Building, Kings Business Park, Prescot, Liverpool L34 1PJ.
35
