Health minister Baroness Merron visits Trust’s children’s mental health services
Health minister Baroness Gillian Merron paid a special visit to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and spoke at length with parents whose children are being supported by staff.
Baroness Merron, minister responsible for women’s health and mental health, visited the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Peterborough.
She undertook a tour of the Child Development Centre, based within the City Care Centre in Thorpe Road, which is used for outpatient appointments for young people receiving support from CAMHS, as well as community paediatric and community nursing services.
During the two-hour long visit, she talked to a number of parents who shared with her their experiences of young people’s mental health services.
The minister said: “What I heard from parents was how grateful and appreciative they were and they want better - and so do I."
Baroness Merron was joined on the tour by Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough and was welcomed by CPFT Chief Executive Steve Grange, children’s clinical director, Dr Mike Basher, and CAMHS service manager Emma Wilson-Jones together with Jo Dickinson and Louise Raybould from NHS England — East of England.
Speaking after the visit Steve Grange (pictured with Baroness Merron and Holly Sutherland) said: “I am really grateful to the minister for visiting and talking to our staff and some of the families.
“She was able to have an open conversation about some of the challenges we face and talk about some of the opportunities available.
“It’s been brilliant to host her today. The staff got to see a minister who was passionate about what she does.”
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough, social care, and learning disability services.
The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and in June 2025, CPFT was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.
ENDS
Baroness Merron, minister responsible for women’s health and mental health, visited the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Peterborough.
She undertook a tour of the Child Development Centre, based within the City Care Centre in Thorpe Road, which is used for outpatient appointments for young people receiving support from CAMHS, as well as community paediatric and community nursing services.
During the two-hour long visit, she talked to a number of parents who shared with her their experiences of young people’s mental health services.
The minister said: “What I heard from parents was how grateful and appreciative they were and they want better - and so do I."
Baroness Merron was joined on the tour by Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough and was welcomed by CPFT Chief Executive Steve Grange, children’s clinical director, Dr Mike Basher, and CAMHS service manager Emma Wilson-Jones together with Jo Dickinson and Louise Raybould from NHS England — East of England.
Speaking after the visit Steve Grange (pictured with Baroness Merron and Holly Sutherland) said: “I am really grateful to the minister for visiting and talking to our staff and some of the families.
“She was able to have an open conversation about some of the challenges we face and talk about some of the opportunities available.
“It’s been brilliant to host her today. The staff got to see a minister who was passionate about what she does.”
CPFT provides community physical health services for older people and adults with long term conditions, mental health services, children community services in Peterborough, social care, and learning disability services.
The Trust is also renowned for its research and development work and in June 2025, CPFT was awarded Teaching Partner status by the University of Cambridge.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Burrows
Andy Burrows
Deputy Head of Communications
