During the pandemic the value of research shot to the top of Boardroom agendas. But as the impact of Covid-19 receded and priorities shifted to address different but equally seismic challenges, the role that research could be playing to drive wider quality and improvement, started to slip off the radar. Board-level visibility of research as […]
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When holding ground starts to look like failure: why segment 5 decisions need more than a performance snapshot. By Vsevolod Shabad
Segment 5 represents the point at which NHS England concludes that local recovery is no longer credible and authorises direct intervention in leadership, governance and organisational structure. Recent decisions to move provider groups into this category matter not because escalation is controversial, but because it is decisive. Designing an escalation framework is one thing. Being […]
When Politeness Dilutes Risk: Why Boards Need a “Crash Call” Moment. By Vsevolod Shabad
A few months ago, watching a television drama, I noticed something that had nothing to do with healthcare — and everything to do with it. Two characters are in a life-or-death situation. One sends a clear signal. The other, operating under threat, processes the words but misses the meaning entirely. Not because the message was […]
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 […]
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 […]