Five minutes with . . . David Gilbert, patient director

“The partnership had the insight to make this role part of the executive team, alongside the clinical and managerial directors. They wanted someone who’d experienced a life changing illness or disability. I’m a former mental health service user.

“The role is about having the authority to support patient centred stuff to happen. I oversee work on improving patients’ experiences, patient and public engagement, self management support, and patient facing communication—things usually managed in …