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Lord Darzi's report and AHPs

As the dust still settles on the review by Lord Darzi I sat down and read the thing myself, curious to see how the allied health professions had featured. Of course, having been floating around the healthcare system for a good few years now I knew not to expect explicit reference to any of our professions. The review is still, somewhat ironically for a document professing innovation, focussed on doctors and nurses. Hey ho, whilst a name check would've been nice (aside from the section on staff group sickness), the content of the paper is very much in the AHP wheelhouse.  I won't rehash the context the report was delivered in, this is viscerally obvious to anyone currently working in healthcare. Although there is a cathartic sense of relief to have this documented and presented to the government. If nothing else Lord Darzi has unintentionally performed an act of therapeutic validation on the majority of NHS colleagues who battle with the broken IT, infrastructure and processes ...
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The NHS, AHPs and the mystery of 'productivity'

  The NHS, AHPs and the mystery of ‘productivity’   ‘What stuff wastes your time?’ was the question, ‘where do I start!’ was the common refrain, and as more and more AHP leads responded to my enquiry their suggestions filled my inbox. The UK has a productivity problem ( ref ),  and this impacts us all as the average worker would now be seeing £10K+ more money in their annual pay packets had economic growth kept pace with its trajectory pre 2008 ( ref) . And what is the driver of low growth? It’s low productivity. Not only does low productivity result in less pay for all, but it also further grows and entrenches health inequalities, as those who already have a small slice of the metaphorical pie, must contend with a small slice of an even smaller pie. It is safe to say that low productivity growth is a bad thing all-round with real, dire implications for the health and wellbeing of the poorer populations we serve. How does this relate to the NHS you might ask. ...
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Leadership - where imposter syndrome is a strength not weakness

Leadership - where imposter syndrome is a strength not a weakness It’s approaching two years since I became a Director of Allied Health Professions (Chief AHP in all but name), and as I step into the role of North East London (NEL) AHP Council Chair it seems a natural point to step back and reflect a little. On AHP leadership, and on the opportunities that lie ahead for us as a professional group. Leadership has been much written about and there are endless books, videos, resources, talks, seminars, and other resources that aim to teach you to become a ‘great leader’……… whatever that is. Yet I have always felt that if you think of yourself as a natural leader then you are likely not the right person for the job. For me good leadership is most often demonstrated when the more unassuming people step into the limelight. Often doing so out of necessity, or because they possess some specific knowledge or insight that has compelled them to raise their hand or step forwards. Imposter syndrome...
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Social attitudes survey

  1 / 2 “Nick’s been stabbed in the neck and is being operated on as they try to save his life and your Dad is racing to be by his side”- these are the words spoken by my Mum to me, on the morning of 30th Dec 2023 when she relayed what had happened to my younger brother. A few hours earlier an EDL supporting, cokehead had proceeded to slice my brother’s throat open whilst he was having a quiet drink with his wife. As I jumped in my car and raced the 80miles to my parents’ home to be with them I began to prepare myself for the act of saying goodbye to my younger, and only, sibling. All the while hoping that the medical team now caring for my brother would be able to save his life. I began reflecting on this familial crisis again when reading the results of the British Social Attitudes survey that were released today. Fewer than 24% of people are now satisfied with the NHS, representing an unprecedented drop in public satisfaction. As a healthy, 42-year-old with many privileges I am ...
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