Congratulations to Cathy Lovatt who has recently been appointed as the new Chair of the NHS Inpatient Network (IPN), taking over from Jon Shorrock, who created the network in order to provide a voice to the 6 remaining NHS Inpatient Detox Units in England.
Cathy is also a Service Manager and Registered Mental Health Nurse at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH).
She currently manages the Chapman Barker Unit (36 bedded Medically Managed Detox in Manchester) and Community Homeless Services (both Mental Health and Dual Diagnosis service provision across Greater Manchester).
Cathy started out in Addictions services in 1999 and has considerable experience of working in inpatient services, however, more recently has worked across community substance misuse services. She also had a period of working corporately within GMMH, leading on the Service User and Carer Engagement agenda.
We welcome Cathy as the new Chair of the IPN and are looking forward to seeing the great work that she will carry out within the role.
To find out more about the IPN and support the NHS APA in their campaign to #KeepTheFewNHSIPUs, which strives to secure the future funding of the few remaining NHS Inpatient Units, you can sign our petition here https://www.nhsapa.org/ipn.