What did I experiment with? Stepping in to look after my wider directorate on an interim basis means I have to support my colleagues to make sense of change while we all have imperfect information. The remote nature of our collaboration right now makes that especially challenging. I realise I've spent more time than usual … Continue reading Weeknote: 17 to 21 January 2022 →

What did I experiment with? Getting out for a short cycle ride around midday on 3 out of 5 days. It makes the most of the daylight and gives me thinking time away from screens and other distractions. What was hard? Maybe it's the approaching 2 year point of not working together in offices, maybe … Continue reading Weeknote: 10 to 14 January 2022 →

What did I experiment with? A new set of questions for my weeknotes, hoping that if I strip things back and simplify, I'll be better at publishing every week. Thanks as ever to Sam for the great collection of weeknote styles. What was hard? An awkward conversation wth some colleagues where we're still not aligned … Continue reading Weeknote: 4 to 7 January 2022 →

What inspired me this week? Natalie, our team's new PA/business support officer helping me to get my calendar under control and make sure I'm directing my atention to the most important things. The kindness of a stranger who tracked down my oldest son on Facebook to tell him they'd found his brother's wallet in the … Continue reading Weeknote: 18 to 22 October 2021 →

What inspired me this week? A couple of new starters to the Urgent and Emergency Care digital team in NHSX. I can see they're both going to bring a lot to the work. A good introductory meeting with the review team lead for our upcoming Gate 0 review. We're fortunate to have been assigned a … Continue reading Weeknote: 11 to 15 October 2021 →

What happened this week? Went to the HETT conference, in person, saw some old friends for the first time in ages, and met some NHSX colleagues for the first time With NHS England colleagues, presented to a board committee, got really helpful feedback on our plans for digital transformation in urgent and emergency care Observed … Continue reading Weeknote: 27 September to 1 October 2021 →

Making the most of the summer by getting out for a bike ride before work every morning What inspired me this week? Colleagues from NHS England, NHSX, and NHS Digital all together in one remote meeting, reflecting on the emerging plan for urgent and emergency care (UEC) recovery, and the different ways that digital can … Continue reading Weeknote: 23 to 27 August 2021 →

Back to work after two weeks by the sea What inspired me this week? I enjoyed getting back to work rested and refreshed after a two-week holiday. I came back determined to notice the progress colleagues are making and assume good intent even when I see behaviour that doesn’t make sense to me. One piece … Continue reading Weeknote: 16 to 20 August 2021 →

A couple of weeks' notes were left languishing unfinishished in my drafts folder, so this note covers 3 weeks, not the usual 1... Cycled along the canal The rush of meetings slowed down this week, as people started to head off on their holidays. This gave me the chance to properly read some documents and … Continue reading Weeknotes catch-up: 5 to 23 July 2021 →

The Old Palace at Hatfield House A 4-day working week because I took Wednesday off to help my oldest son move between student houses. He and his housemates left their old house cleaner than they found the new one! How am I focusing delivery to support system outcomes? I joined my first Urgent and Emergency Care … Continue reading Weeknote: 28 June to 2 July 2021 →

17th Century map spotted on weekend visit to Hatfield House Objectives and milestones I spent quite a lot of time this week thinking and talking about objectives - clarifying and wearing smooth some goals we set for ourselves, share with our colleagues, and intend to deliver for NHS staff, patients and the public. One set … Continue reading Weeknote: 21 to 25 June 2021 →

Sunday afternoon visit to York Gate Garden, Adel Listening to users Thanks to digital urgent and emergency care colleagues in NHSX and NHS Digital for responding rapidly to my request to observe user research this week. It's great to see how users are involved throughout design and development. This week in user research, I heard … Continue reading Weeknote: 14 to 18 June 2021 →

The cat has taken to obstructing my desk when he thinks it's dinnertime Deep dives Diane led deep dives on four initiatives in the Urgent and Emergency Care digital portfolio. I think I'm allowed to play the new kid card for a little while longer, and as an introduction to the key issues in each piece … Continue reading Weeknote: 7 to 11 June 2021 →