
NHS England Podcast
At NHS England our aim is to support the NHS and help improve care for patients. Our podcast will be providing commentary and information about NHS health care services, policy and success stories.
Latest episodes

Oct 16, 2024 • 11min
Bravery, Curiosity and the Magic of Storytelling in Research
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
Sometimes, things go wrong. This is part of everyday life and often we can quickly reflect, adapt, and move on. But when the adverse event is more significant, how do we acknowledge and understand the harm felt by all those involved so that we can truly learn and feel reconciled with what has happened?
In this episode Toni Hall, a Diagnostic Radiographer by profession and Associate Director of Patient Care at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust a large, shares the experiences of an operation that went wrong and resulted in catastrophic harm to a patient.
Following the methodologies of Restorative Practice, Toni explores how individuals and teams can work through their experiences to become reconciled with the impact of harm and uncover a deeper way to identify and share learning to support their healing and promote greater patient safety.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep3-bravery-curiosity-and-the-magic-of-stroytelling-in-research-melissa-reed/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 16, 2024 • 11min
Restoration and healing from harm
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
Sometimes, things go wrong. This is part of everyday life and often we can quickly reflect, adapt, and move on. But when the adverse event is more significant, how do we acknowledge and understand the harm felt by all those involved so that we can truly learn and feel reconciled with what has happened?
In this episode Toni Hall, a Diagnostic Radiographer shares the experiences based on a true story, of an operation that went wrong and resulted in catastrophic harm to a patient. Following the methodologies of Restorative Practice, Toni explores how individuals and teams can work through their experiences to become reconciled.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep1-restoration-and-healing-from-harm-toni-hall/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 16, 2024 • 11min
Why are you surprised I work for the NHS?
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
Why moving 15205.31km from my home, friends and family to work in the NHS was a dream and one that surprises everyone I meet. The NHS offered a unique opportunity to expand my horizons, both professionally and personally – and I’m living that dream!
In this episode Laura Johns, a Therapy Lead for Early Careers and Career Development at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust shares her journey from waking up to the kookaburras to cold water dips in Bournemouth; how she intended a 6-month locum stint, and it turned into a permanent leadership role. Learn how we focus on the ‘little things’ like fostering connection, growth, work-life balance, to ensure our AHP staff thrive in the South West.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep07-why-are-you-surprised-i-work-for-the-nhs-laura-johns/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 16, 2024 • 10min
A different kind of normal
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
In this episode we hear the story of a specialist pain service curious about the number of patients the team were seeing with autistic traits but often without a diagnosis. This story explores prevalence of autism in chronic pain, how clinicians can support these patients better and capitalise on their unique strengths.
Jennifer Ford is an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation and the Bath Centre for Pain Services (BCPS) Therapy Lead, the BCPS is a National Specialist NHS Centre providing pain rehabilitation to people of all ages with complex pain associated disability and associated mental health difficulties. :
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep4-a-different-kind-of-normal-jennifer-ford/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 16, 2024 • 12min
Liminal spaces and their therapeutic value
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
This episode shares the experiences of a contemporary/role-emerging clinical placement for two occupational therapy students with the Wave Project in North Devon. The student learners Lizzie and Caoimhe, share how the placement provided the opportunity to explore the value of the space between the beachhead and the sea, and how it can be utilised to support therapeutic interventions.
In a conversation with Sue Hilsden, a long-arm Occupational Therapy Supervisor and Volunteer with Wave Project North Devon, Lizzie Slater and Caoimhe Byrne students at the University of the West of England provide information on how the space has been used by adolescents, volunteers and themselves during regular surf therapy sessions.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep12-liminal-spaces-and-their-therapeutic-value-1/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 16, 2024 • 18min
You don’t have to be an academic to get involved in research
Tune into the South west Allied Health Professions (AHPs) 2024 Podcast series, featuring 12 episodes. Recorded at Westonbirt Arboretum, the series includes 8 live campfire stories and 4 additional episodes. AHPs from across the South West share stories that connect, inspire, and elevate, showcasing how they implement the AHPs Deliver strategy for England.
This episode provides food for thought for research curious clinical staff to think about ways that they could get involved in becoming more research aware and research active. Not everyone wants to pursue a career as an academic but that there are still plenty of ways that Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) can contribute to the design, delivery and consumption of research.
Whilst the podcast by no means covers an exhaustive list, Kate Coates a Research Physiotherapist at Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust shares some signposts and top tips based on her own experiences with Carrie Biddle, South West Regional Head of Allied Health Professions, Psychology Professions and Healthcare for NHS England
Kate can be contacted on X @KCoatesBristol
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/ep10-you-dont-have-to-be-an-academic-to-get-involved-in-research/
Contact us: england.ahpwte.sw@nhs.net

Oct 11, 2024 • 41min
Podcast 2:Digital care plans are transforming care for patients with sickle cell
Dr. Dianne Addei, a public health consultant and NHS England lead for sickle cell services, joins patient Chris Abdulahi, Anthony Mason, and others to discuss the transformative power of digital care plans. They share personal stories about navigating the challenges of sickle cell disease, including intense pain and mental health issues. The conversation highlights the significance of cultural sensitivities in healthcare and how the Universal Care Plan is revolutionizing patient care, providing tailored approaches for better outcomes and addressing health inequalities.

Oct 3, 2024 • 38min
Understanding sickle cell and the role of education
Sickle cell is a life-long debilitating condition that predominantly affects people of black African and black African Caribbean background. This podcast series explores what it is like to have sickle cell and what the NHS is doing to improve sickle cell care following publication of the No One’s Listening report.
In episode 1 Dr Dianne Addei, a consultant in public health medicine and NHS England’s lead for sickle-cell services, is joined by patient, Stephanie George, and Dr Rossby Awadzi, a North-west London haematology doctor to help clinicians, patients and the public to get a better understanding of sickle cell. Stephanie explains what it is like to live with sickle cell, while Dianne and Rossby discuss the benefits of genetic blood testing ahead of blood transfusions, the sickle cell patient education programme, role of staff education and Dianne provides an update on the new NHS sickle cell disorder emergency department by-pass units.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/transcript-podcast-1-understanding-sickle-cell-and-the-role-of-education/
Contact us: england.sicklecellreview@nhs.net

Sep 17, 2024 • 3min
Flu & COVID-19 vaccination audio invitation – 65+
Audio version of the NHS invitation for winter flu & COVID-19 vaccinations for people aged 65 and over.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/flu-covid-19-vaccination-audio-invitation-65/
Contact us: england.contactus@nhs.net

Sep 17, 2024 • 3min
COVID-19 vaccination audio invitation – increased risk
Audio version of the NHS invitation for a winter COVID-19 vaccination for people at increased risk of serious illness because of a health condition.
A transcript of this episode is available on our website - https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/covid-19-vaccination-audio-invitation-increased-risk/
Contact us: england.contactus@nhs.net