To watch this interview, please follow this link Emilie Couchman: Today, I am talking with Liz Darlison MBE DL. Thank you so much for joining us. Can we start with your early life? Do you have any childhood memories that perhaps give insight into what your future career would involve? Liz Darlison: I was quite […]
Latest articles
It’s time to add SMA to the NHS newborn blood spot screening programme. By Kelly Silnes
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. The prognosis varies depending on the type; the most common form of SMA is Type I which typically presents with symptoms before six months of age [1]. Historically the prognosis has been extremely poor, with fewer than one in […]
Transforming patient care through NMAHP led research and leadership. By Ruth Pearce
In the complex landscape of modern healthcare, leadership is not confined to boardrooms. Nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) are increasingly at the forefront of transformational change, leading initiatives that improve patient outcomes, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen clinical teams. At University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), a structured programme of research education and clinical academic […]
NHS Funding and the Limits of “More Money”. By Vsevolod Shabad
Reading the latest House of Commons analysis of NHS spending, a familiar pattern emerges. The debate centres on funding levels — who was generous, who was austere, whether current plans represent continuity or change. For those governing NHS organisations, this framing is increasingly unhelpful. The real question is not how much money the system receives, […]
The global medical community must have all eyes on Iran. By Rammina Yassaie
Hospitals in Iran have been overwhelmed by the scale of casualties inflicted on Iranian people by Iran’s security forces, as protestors have flocked to the streets over recent weeks, demanding an end to the oppressive Islamic Republic regime.1 While the regime’s deliberate internet blackouts (engineered to mask its own violence, shielding it from global disgrace) has […]
Quality management and clinical audit: Integrating clinical audit and quality improvement to deliver impact for patients. By Iain Smith
Fit-for-the-Future, the ten-year plan for the English NHS, envisages a focus on quality and improvement driven by data.1 The plan acknowledges the wealth of data available nationally – including through clinical audits.1 Furthermore, new best practice guidance from NHS England argues for clinical audit contributing to a wider quality management approach.2 Historically, clinical audit is […]
Leadership in the Mirror: Working With Disability in Surgery When the Framework Does Not Exist. By Najeeb Aftab
Disability has been discussed in surgical training for years, yet the gap between interest and actual understanding remains wide. Commentary has questioned whether surgical training has ever meaningfully created space for surgeons with physical disabilities [1]. While others have warned that awareness alone is no longer enough and that the profession must move beyond acknowledgement […]
Health Care in the Information Society (Volumes 1 & 2) – A Book Review from the NHS operating theatres of a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. By Kanthan Theivendran
As an NHS consultant with two decades of experience, I have lived through what David Ingram aptly describes as the “anarchy of transition”. We have moved from paper notes which are fragmented but tangible, to digital systems that promise the world but often deliver disjointed, burdensome silos of data. Ingram’s two volume magnum opus […]
When “More Data” Feels Safe but Increases Risk: A Boardroom Paradox. By Vsevolod Shabad
Analysing cyber governance across the NHS, a recurring pattern emerges. A warning is raised — perhaps a signal about supplier fragility, a shift in cyber threat patterns, or early indicators of workforce burnout. The risk is not yet a full incident, but the signal is clear enough to create unease. The immediate response from the […]
Believing in the Power of Platforms: A Young Leader’s Journey. By Germaine Tan Jia Hui
Four years ago, I was a clueless first-year undergraduate navigating an entirely new academic structure during a global pandemic. It was 2021, and classes were conducted entirely online due to COVID-19. At the National University of Singapore, I was part of the newly established College of Humanities and Sciences, born from the merger of the […]