From the start of my time at NHS Digital, I was in the habit of publishing six-monthly updates on my work. I kept up the habit at 6 months, 1 year, 1.5 years (a special favourite), 2 years, 2.5 years, and 3 years. Why the 2 year hiatus? It’s complicated. At 3.5 years, I found … Continue reading This way up: 5 years into my work for the NHS
If my reckoning is right, it's 25 years since I started my first job in digital, with PA New Media in Leeds. Please excuse the self-indulgent thread about the things I've seen in that quarter century. I've had ringside seats to watch two massive service sectors - first news media, then telecommunications - turned upside … Continue reading Quarter century
In no particular order... When teams are under pressure, the path of least resistance is to stick to what they know. To collaborate with people who work differently slows things down and feels like a luxury. It's easy to overlook adoption and improvement of what we already have in favour of more and more new … Continue reading 21 things I learned in 2021
In part 1 of this update, I looked at what's changed for me at work over the past 6 months. In part 2, I shared what I've learned through my participation in the NHS Leadership Academy's Nye Bevan Programme. To round off these reflections, I'm thinking about what's next, with a nod back to the … Continue reading More serene: Two and a half years into my work at NHS Digital – part 3
In part 1 of this update, I talked about some of the things that have changed for me at work over the past six months. Much of that is down to the challenge, support and learning I’ve experienced on the NHS Leadership Academy’s Nye Bevan Programme. The programme is designed to: ”develop the skills, knowledge, … Continue reading Things I have learned: Two and a half years into my work at NHS Digital – part 2
I’m starting to write this on a sleepy Friday evening train back to Leeds, two and a half years and one day since I started at NHS Digital. I won’t publish it for a week or so now, out of deference to the pre-election period. This morning at Leeds Station I popped my postal vote … Continue reading Levelling up: Two and a half years into my work at NHS Digital – part 1
Video of the talk... https://youtu.be/kMCyNztqj2s Opening video: Abridged version of Your very good health, Public info film (NHS) 1948 I wanted you to see that film - 70 years old this year - because its promise, of universal healthcare, free at the point of need, is as relevant today as in 1948. But much has changed in … Continue reading The promise of understanding – a talk at Interact 2018
Earlier this year I set out to understand more about the history of the National Health Service. As well as reading some books recommended by colleagues, I've picked up a few original 1948 documents from online auctions. Some archaic language aside, they're as fresh and relevant today as they were 70 years ago. Exhibit 1: … Continue reading 5 July 1948: A chance and a challenge
Service design in the public sector is, as Lou says, 10% innovation and 90% archaeology, and never more so than when working in a great national institution in its 70th year. Realising I needed to learn more about the history of our National Health Service, I asked the Twitter crowd where to start. Here's what … Continue reading Anyone can use it: some NHS history links and reading
Matt Edgar writes here 