AlteaTalks

In this episode, Will Marshall sits down with Melanie Venables from the Professional Standards Authority for a wide-ranging conversation about where health and care regulation is heading next. They talk about the challenge of keeping regulation proportionate in a fast-changing world, from workforce reform and AI to aesthetics licensing and public protection, and why collaboration and flexibility w...

In this episode, we're joined by Dr Rob Lawson, a leading voice in lifestyle medicine and co-founder of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr Lawson explores how our environment and everyday habits shape our long-term health. We discuss the drivers behind rising chronic disease, and the growing recognition of the importance of   prevention over cu...

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Johnson, the original specialist insurer to the psychological professions, with unrivalled expertise in providing bespoke professional liability insurance solutions to counsellors, psychotherapists and coaches. Drawing on nearly four decades of experience, Steve explores the unique risks facing talking therapies professionals today, highlighting the critical...

In this episode, we sit down with researcher and tattoo artist Brooklyn Bond to unpack how unconscious bias shapes every corner of the beauty and aesthetics sector. From appearance-based assumptions to LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, racial, religious, age and disability bias, Brooklyn reveals how snap judgements can influence consultations, impact effective communication and damage client trust. She shar...

In this episode, we welcome back Josie Winter, Clinical Lead of Advanced Clinical Solutions and creator of the Good Governance Review, the innovative digital tool that helps health and care providers assess their quality, safety, and compliance. Ahead of the Review's exclusive rollout to Altea customers, Josie explains why effective governance focuses on people, culture, and continuous improvement...

In this episode we're joined by Alex Jacobs, CEO of the British Acupuncture Council and a practising acupuncturist. Tune in to learn why these are exciting times for Acupuncture in the UK as it looks to play an increasingly prominent role in delivering efficacious and cost-effective primary care. Alex shares the story behind professional regulation, highlights the enhanced patient safety benefits...

Beyond the care home stereotype lies a sector that's busy transforming lives through innovation and ambition. We are delighted to be joined this month by Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum, and a leading international authority on the care sector. Tune in for a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion that encompasses fair funding battles, technology's exciting potential, the...

In this episode, Aislinn O'Shea, Senior Associate at Mason Hayes and Curran gives us the inside track on some of the hottest topics affecting healthcare litigation in Ireland today. She reveals how Ireland's new court practice directions are transforming medical negligence cases, potentially shaving   years off resolution times and slashing legal costs. She explores the underground aesthetic indus...

Products liability law hits healthcare professionals harder than most realise. Any involvement in the supply of a defective medical device or cosmetic product that causes harm to the recipient risks potential exposure to legal liability, even when the professional has no idea anything is wrong. Leading Products Liability lawyer David Kidman from Simmons & Simmons, joins us this episode to share ke...

In this episode, Karen Matthews-Shard, Group Clinical Director at global healthcare giant Acacium Group, joins AlteaTalks to guide us through one of healthcare's most valuable and sensitive processes: the methodical investigation of adverse clinical incidents. Drawing from four decades of nursing experience across both UK and US systems, Karen explains how a combination of accountability, a suppor...

Healthcare lawyer Charlotte Ellis demystifies inquests in this month's episode. Drawing on decades of experience, she explains coronial proceedings in clinical settings and what professionals face when testifying. Charlotte shares practical wisdom on crafting effective witness statements, handling family tensions, and turning inquests from frightening ordeals into opportunities for meaningful syst...

"Sorry goes a long way" - Anita Jewitt, leading claimant clinical negligence lawyer from specialist litigation practice Stewarts Law LLP reveals how early, meaningful apologies can help to avoid compounding of harm when an error occurs. She shares candid insights from her unique patient perspective on what motivates her clients to sue, and how healthcare providers can prevent escalation. This epis...

Leading London physiotherapist Simon Gilchrist reveals how preventative care and cutting-edge technology are revolutionising patient treatment at his Mayfair Health clinics. Drawing on his experience of treating elite Olympic athletes and pioneering Diagnostic Ultrasound , Simon explains how his clinics are providing a combination of traditional hands-on physiotherapy augmented by an increased awa...

AlteaTalks returns for its second season with JCCP Chair Professor David Sines CBE, giving us the inside track on the hotly anticipated aesthetic licensing scheme. With decades of healthcare leadership and four Secretary of State appointments, Professor Sines remains central to reforming non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England. Join us for the latest updates on where we are now and what's comi...

Please join us for our final episode of Season 1 of AlteaTalks as we ask, "when is a lie more than a lie?" In this episode we're delighted to be joined by Claire Toogood KC to unpack "fundamental dishonesty" - the legal doctrine that's being deployed with increasing frequency by Defendants in healthcare litigation. From weightlifting patients claiming disability to Facebook posts exposing fraudste...

In this episode, we explore the key principles and practices that together make up the foundations of good clinical governance. We are joined by Josie Winter, Clinical Programme Director at Advanced Clinical Solutions, to discuss the key pillars of clinical governance – described by Josie as "the backbone to any high reliability health care organisation". These are the fundamentals that apply to e...

Join us for the second part of our fascinating discussion with distinguished consultant psychiatrist, Dr Alice Ashby. In this episode, Dr Ashby discusses her groundbreaking work in maternal mental health. She shares her valuable insights into key risk management challenges affecting the practice of modern day psychiatry, including patient confidentiality, capacity and obtaining informed consent, a...

In this week's episode we are joined by Carlton Sadler, a top healthcare regulatory lawyer, to help guide us through the complexities of CQC's faltering Single Assessment Framework. Join us as we discuss what the future now holds for SAF amidst the continuing fall-out from the highly critical interim Dash report. As we await publication of the final report later this month, Carlton shares his uniq...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr Alice Ashby, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director at the London Psychiatry Clinic, discusses her expertise in liaison psychiatry and remote treatment. She provides her views on the explosive increase in ADHD diagnoses and discusses the close association between mental and physical health, and the implications of this mind-body connection fo...

The medico-legal system in Ireland is battling to keep pace with a growing and evolving healthcare sector, as sweeping recent reforms drive changes to practice. In this episode Janet Keane, Clinical Negligence Director at DWF LLP Dublin, draws on her extensive experience in both defence and plaintiff roles to analyse the challenges faced by healthcare practitioners and their insurers seeking to na...

We're joined by Tracy Sell-Peters, who is a leading healthcare regulatory partner at Keystone Law. In this episode we focus on maintaining standards, as the wide-ranging conversation focuses on the implications and broader themes of the recently updated Good Medical Practice and the new HCPC standards due to take effect from this September. Join us as Tracy provides fascinating insights into curre...

Against a backdrop of an ageing population, staff shortages, rising costs and increasingly complex patient needs the potential for AI to meet many of the heath and care sector's challenges is obvious. With uses spanning from diagnostics to domiciliary care, a wealth of exciting new technologies have the potential to truly revolutionise the sector. But what will this revolution look like in practic...

In this episode of AlteaTalks, we welcome Victoria Heyworth and Arya Tabrizi, leading barristers with extensive experience of the cut and thrust of clinical negligence litigation. From dissecting key legal issues to revealing courtroom secrets and discussing emerging trends, this episode is packed with invaluable knowledge for both medical and legal professionals and enthusiasts.    Timestamps - D...

We're joined by leading aesthetics practitioner, Valerie Millington as she shares fascinating insights acquired over the course of a long, varied and successful career and discusses exciting new market treatments in the ever- evolving field of advanced cosmetic skin treatments. Timestamps - Insight on Val's professional developments in South Africa and how she became a leading trainer of electroly...

Vickie Rhodes, Altea's Business Development Officer discusses how medical indemnity insurance is evolving to serve the needs of this increasingly complex and nuanced sector and much more...   Timestamps - Discussion on the two main types of indemnity coverage for UK healthcare professionals, exploring differences between discretionary and financially regulated insurance models. (00:03:30) - Examin...