The value of secret diversity

One of the fourteen million things that make me proud of the NHS is its diversity. From the day it launched in 1948, the National Health Service has relied on staff across the world. From the Windrush generation to today’s workforce, represented by over 200 nationalities, the N...

Going through the change

I’ve worked in the NHS for thirty years now, and occasionally get asked “but….why?” in a tone of voice that appears to question my sanity. The answer is quite simple – change.

Onwards and upwards? Or sideways and diagonally?

“Onwards and upwards!” said a colleague of mine the other day, as a meeting ended. If my smile looked awkward, it’s because I was biting my tongue. In many cases, progress – particularly in the NHS – isn’t so much characterised by ‘onwards and upwards’ as ‘sidew...

A personal perspective on the gap between the front line and the back office.

I’m noticing the gap between the NHS front line and back office growing wider every year. Roles are becoming increasingly specialised, and, whilst that can be a good thing, I’m seeing the unintended consequence of a growing lack of awareness around what the clinical and non-c...