Hear about your local NHS in Somerset FT’s annual general meeting and marketplace event

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM)
and marketplace event, on Thursday 17 September 2026 at Somerset County
Cricket Club, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

The event is open to members of the public, patients, carers, partner organisations
and colleagues, with those interested in healthcare particularly encouraged to attend.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘The NHS 10-Year Health Plan’, which sets out a
vision for improving health outcomes and transforming the way healthcare will be
delivered over the coming decade.

The marketplace takes place from 2pm to 4pm in the County Room (Colin Atkinson
Pavilion) and will feature a showcase of a range of NHS services available across
Somerset, alongside exhibits from local charitable, voluntary, community, faith and
social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.

Information and advice on healthy living, wellbeing and lifestyle choices will also be
available, highlighting the collective contribution of local organisations in supporting
healthier communities.

Directly after, from 4pm to 5:30pm in the Long Room, the AGM will provide an
opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the trust during 2025/26, as well as to
hear about the trust’s priorities and plans for the future, in the context of the NHS 10
Year Health Plan.

Dr Rima Makarem, chair, and Peter Lewis, chief executive, welcome questions from
members of the public during the AGM, and are encouraging questions to be
submitted in advance, so they can provide the most accurate and comprehensive
responses.

People who wish to submit a question beforehand should go to the Somerset FT
website: (https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/about-us/?document=agm-public-question-
form-2026) and submit their question to companysecretary@somersetft.nhs.uk, by
5pm on Monday 31 August 2026.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the afternoon. People should
email companysecretary@somersetft.nhs.uk by 5pm on Monday 31 August 2026 to
attend.