A fierce critic who joined the region's troubled mental health trust in hope of improving services has resigned from his post, stating "I've just had enough".

Nick Fulcher was elected a public governor of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in January last year, having regularly spoken out about his concerns over the quality of care.

Mr Fulcher is the son-in-law of Peggy Copeman, an 81 year old grandmother who died in an M11 layby while being brought back to Norfolk for mental health care after an out-of-area placement in 2019.

He had hoped that by working alongside the trust he could help drive improvement to services.

However, just over a year on he has resigned from the position after growing exasperated with the experience.

He said: "I have just had enough - I can't do it any more as nothing seems to change and it never will.

"I have been a governor more than 14 months and have not seen anything different - people are still dying as they just cannot get the help he needed."

Mr Fulcher added that he backs calls for a public inquiry into deaths at the trust - and that directors speaking out against the calls had proven one of his last straws.

He added he had been frustrated in efforts to encourage the trust to establish a support hub in Diss - but that he still had respect for Cath Byford, the trust's chief people officer.

Eastern Daily Press: Cath Byford, deputy chief executive of NSFT

Ms Byford, said: "I have really appreciated working with Nick in his role as a governor over the last 14 months.

"I will greatly miss his valuable contributions and the experiences he has shared with us as a trust.

"He has provided a much-needed challenge to us as an organisation which has directly affected our improvement and transformation journey so far.

"His important input has resulted in changes to how our trust manages out-of-area placements for older people - this will remain his legacy."