What if we stopped trying to "fix" the NHS and focused instead on releasing its untapped potential? This episode challenges conventional thinking about healthcare improvement through an eye-opening conversation with GP Ben Allen.
Ben offers a refreshing perspective that moves beyond the binary notion of a "broken" NHS, suggesting we focus on continuous optimisation rather than wholesale system transformation. "It's always going to be in various degrees of broken and fixed," he explains, highlighting how the most meaningful changes often emerge from within existing structures when the right approach is taken.
Through his dual role as both a practicing GP and healthcare innovator, Ben shares practical strategies that have transformed his practice into "one of the most improved in the country." From creative uses of social media for preventative healthcare to innovative leadership approaches that empower staff to follow principles rather than rigid rules, his methods demonstrate how significant improvements can be achieved without massive structural overhauls.
Particularly fascinating is Ben's vision for community-based care through digital forums. By creating Facebook groups where patients can share experiences and receive guidance from both professionals and peers, he's pioneering cost-effective alternatives to resource-intensive consultations. "A one-to-one consultation with a doctor is a very high resource way of getting anything done," he notes, imagining how similar models could transform waiting lists for procedures nationwide.
The conversation culminates in a powerful message about leadership and potential. By seeking out people with leadership qualities who wouldn't necessarily put themselves forward and giving them autonomy, Ben has witnessed remarkable transformation. His approach offers hope for anyone working in healthcare: even when resources are constrained, focusing on unleashing potential creates "breathing space" that enables further improvement.
Connect with Ben online at benallengp.net, on LinkedIn, Twitter (@BenAllenGP), or read his blogs on Medium to learn more about his innovative approaches to healthcare improvement.
Hi, I'm Heidi Fisher, the host of the Make an Impact Podcast. I'm an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have.
I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn't become an additional burden.
I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples' lives.
You can get in touch via LinkedIn or the website makeanimpactcic.co.uk if you'd like to find out more about working with me.
