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By Mohammed Akhter

Sometimes, things are so large and complex that one can hardly believe that there was a point where their existence was merely a thought in someone's head. For the NHS, the world's fifth largest employer and one of the most envied healthcare systems in the world, this point came in 1948.

By Tricia Woodhead

Three years ago tomorrow I went back to Medical School. As a Quality Improvement Fellow funded by the Health Foundation I spent six weeks at a summer school in clinical effectiveness, part of a Masters Course in Public Health. On 5 July 2010 I sat in a traditional medical school lecture theatre at Harvard surrounded by unfamiliarity.

By Karin Purshouse

The NHS has had more reform since its inception in 1948 than I’ve had hot dinners. I am quite sure that in the course of my career, I will become as frustrated and cynical as some of today’s consultants about yet another restructuring. 

And yet, I think a key factor that has been, and will continue to be, an important player in the evolution to the NHS, is I.

When I say ‘I’, I really mean ‘us’. Women.

By Michael Roddis

Professor John Ashton CBE, joint director of public health for NHS Cumbria and Cumbria County talked on the TV news recently of a crisis in moral leadership in the public sector. I wonder if he has been reading one of the most inspiring books I have read over the last year: Moral Leadership in Medicine, by Dr Suzanne Shale (CUP 2012).

By Anthony Berendt

Q: Must I really read the Francis Report?

A: Of course you must. The Francis Reports, in particular the most recent one, set out in detail the failings that occurred at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust over several years, in the course of which possibly hundreds of people died avoidable and premature deaths, some in conditions of misery and squalor that the whole NHS should be ashamed of. Every self-respecting leader should want to read these reports in order to make sure that this never happens again. I am surprised you would even ask the question!

By Darren Kilroy

Before I go any further, a reassurance: I mention the Francis report in this blog, but won't insult your intelligence by giving you the reference for it at the end. If you do need the reference, please stop reading this now, Google it, and spend your time reading him not me. My words aren't important; his are. 

When you have absorbed even a twentieth of its contents, come back to the blog, for I want to make, on the basis of the report, a claim now in support of Shizaru, who has much to tell us about healthcare and was right all along.

By Makani Hemadri

Airline operational performance results for major carries in USA have come out and it shows that in general flying experience parameters are all getting better. The WSJ has a nice tabular column which explains it really well.Southwest Airlines had the largest number of system wide emplanements (I take this to mean the highest number of passengers took Southwest flights) and they have the lowest rate of complaints per 100000 emplanements.

By Anthony Berendt

From a leadership perspective, I love the months leading up to Christmas. It’s not just the anticipation of the festive season or the especial frisson you get from a bright wintery morning with sun on frost or snow. In recent years, it’s been because this is also seasonal flu immunisation time, and that means leadership!

By Darren Kilroy

Mired in poor performance and bedevilled by dysfunctional teamworking, a large healthcare organisation hired in a new clinical leader to sort out the mess. Just before his official start date, the new leader met privately with his predecessor as he cleared his office. The departing incumbent fixed his successor with a gimlet eye and handed him three sealed envelopes. "It's tough at this hospital" remarked the soon-to-depart leader with monumental understatement, "and you might need these. Open them in order whenever you feel you've nowhere left to turn."

By Darren Kilroy

Seeking solace from the rigours of the day job, you secrete yourself away in your office and sip at that much-needed cup of coffee. Targets not met, staff not happy, it's all looking grim. You need inspiration. You need a boost - and not just caffeine. You need some inspirational words of leadership to see you though the day. So where better to turn to than your e-inbox? Surely someone will have taken the trouble to have emailed you those words which mean so much when all around you seems...well...a bit rubbish.

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