SoWhoCaresAnyway

When a consultant haematologist steps out of the system and walks into a forest, something begins to shift, in her, and in how she sees care. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Jane Stevens , Associate Medical Director at Darent Valley Hospital: clinical leader, organisational change-maker, and former haematologist. Jane’s journey through burnout, trauma, and rediscovery led her to Sophrology, Salu...

Are you ready to make ripples, be creative, and develop an environment where everyone thrives? In this episode, I am joined by Cheryl Young , an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Professional Nurse Advocate working in Whitstable Medical Practice , a community-based Urgent Treatment Centre on the Kent coast. With over two decades of nursing experience, Cheryl brings a rich blend of clinical expert...

Are You Ready to Take Centre Stage?  In this episode, I am delighted and honoured to be joined by Barbara Stilwell  who shares how the power of listening transforms people, communities and countries, why healthcare systems around the world are deeply interconnected, and why we all have a role in shaping better solutions for communities—whether in nursing, public health, or beyond.  Barbara Stillwe...

Are you ready to consider what resilience means and how to develop resilient teams? In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Grace Cook , a Person-Centred Practice Facilitator at the Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS), to explore how Resilience-Based Clinical Supervision (RBCS) shapes workforce wellbeing, recruitment, and person-centred care. Grace shares how she worked with Professor Gem...

“Are you ready to stop looking for problems to fix and start asking the right questions? What matters most to you, and how can I help you achieve that?”  In this episode of So Who Cares Anyway, I speak with Diya Sharma , a postgraduate researcher, associate lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University, and advocate with Muscular Dystrophy UK. Diya’s journey challenges deep-seated assumptions abo...

Are you ready to have a friendly conversation to discover people for who they are?  In this episode of #SoWhoCaresAnyway, I chat with  and Aaron Tebano, two inspiring Learning Disability Student Nurses from the University of Winchester. They are advocating for the profession of Learning Disability Nursing to empower, support, and advocate for people rather than define them by their challenges.   ...

Are you ready to take a challenge, starting conversations with three people in your own community? In this episode I am delighted to be joined by Cormac Russell , a global leader in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). In this episode we explore how communities can shift from focusing on needs and deficits to recognising strengths and assets, ensuring change is driven by local people, relatio...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Harry Bannister , a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation, Who works for NHS Blood and Transplant . Amongst other things Harry talks about how he guides families through some of the hardest moments of their lives, reflecting on the weight of these conversations, where families are asked to make life-changing decisions while navigating overwhelming...

What if healthcare wasn’t just about clinical expertise and procedures, but about learning within communities and building networks to truly understand people's needs?  In this solo episode, I take you on a swift tour of my personal journey—one that started with a childhood dream of nursing and evolved into a mission to reshape how learning happens to meet the needs of people in ways that work for...

Are you ready to be curious, listen to naïve questions and explore the answers? For too long, research has been seen as something reserved for “clever people,” locked behind academic walls and inaccessible to frontline healthcare workers. But what if research was really just about asking the right questions—even the seemingly naïve ones? In this episode, Claire Pegg , joins me on #SoWhoCaresAnyway...

Are you ready to make mischief?  What if growing older wasn’t about limitations, but about possibilities? What if care focused not on what you can’t do, but on everything you still can?  In this episode of SoWhoCaresAnyway, I welcome Angela Catley , a passionate disruptor in social care, who has spent her career challenging the status quo and sparking bold conversations. Angela, with Sian Lockwood...

Are you ready to listen to a story and uncover the untold? In this episode of #SoWhoCaresAnyway, I explore with Paul Stepczak  how co-production and asset-based community development can transform the way communities and services work together. At its core, this approach is about listening—not just hearing words, but truly understanding the stories behind the stories, gaining real insight into peo...

Are you ready to take a walk and listen to the birds? In this week’s episode of SoWhoCaresAnyway, I’m joined by James Metcalfe , CEO of the North York Moors Trust , to explore the transformative power of nature. With James we are taken on a journey to discover why reconnecting with the outdoors isn’t just a luxury but a crucial necessity for improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and co...

Are you ready to discover the true power of systems leadership? In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Heidi Edmunds , Clinical and Operations Manager at Whitstable Urgent Treatment Centre . Having known Heidi since 2016, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing her incredible journey and the transformative impact her leadership has had—not just on her team and organisation, but across the wid...

Emma Snow - Episode 9 The Five Giants In this fascinating episode of #SoWhoCaresAnyway, meet Emma Snow   CEO of The Five Giants Foundation . Emma shares her remarkable journey—from working in prominent roles within a variety of charities to navigating her own challenges as an end-of-life care patient with Huntington’s disease. These experiences fuelled her passion to embed #SystemsThinking, an app...

  Are you ready to be awed and inspired? In this next episode of #SoWhoCaresAnyway, Dr Mark Spencer takes us on a transformational journey that starts with listening and litter picking and ends with creating hope and having fun. Mark has been a GP in Fleetwood, a small ex-fishing town on the northwest coast of England, for over 30 years and is now the clinical director for Fleetwood Primary Care N...

In this episode of "So Who Cares Anyway?" I am excited to introduce an insightful conversation with Sarah Trust, a clinical pharmacist who works across five general practices within one Primary Care Network. Sarah shares her evolving perspective on prescribing and how her experience has shaped her approach to patient care. "The more experienced I get, the less I prescribe," she states, emphasising...

In this next episode of "So Who Cares Anyway?" I am thrilled to introduce Dr Rebecca Myers, an incredible advocate for healthcare transformation. Having first encountered Rebecca on LinkedIn, where she shared an insightful article co-authored with Alison Leary titled " Why are healthcare professionals leaving NHS roles? " I knew I had to invite her to discuss this further. As I read this article,...

In this next episode of SoWhoCaresAnyway, I am delighted to introduce Phil Ward, director of the Eastern Applied Research Consortium https://easternarc.ac.uk/ Having first met Phil in 2020, I became intrigued by how a collaborative of research-intensive universities might support the health and wellbeing of their communities. My initial thoughts were, heritage and health? How does that link? But a...

Welcome to another episode of "So Who Cares Anyway" Where I am delighted to introduce my extraordinary guest, Kim Manley. Kim has had a huge impact upon me, how I work, think, and what I do, supporting and challenging me along the way. Kim’s impressive career includes establishing multi-professional consultant practice, seamlessly integrating professional expertise, system leadership, embedded res...

In this episode, I am delighted to be joined by Farah Virani. Farah, who worked as an orthoptist for ten years, shares how her redeployment during the Covid-19 pandemic was a moment of awakening. She witnessed the real challenges and complexities faced by people working in large organizations and the cascade of ramifications one decision might have. Since then, driven by her passion for hearing an...

In this second episode of #SoWhoCaresAnyway I'm delighted to introduce Adam Lent, a senior consultant in the leadership and organisational development team at the King's Fund. In this episode Adam will introduce the #DoWith movement. Recognising the innovative and impactful work that people are doing Adam discuss the challenges of achieving these innovations that focus on doing things with people,...

From Silence to Voice: The Journey of Professionalisation with Dr. Debbie Reid   In the inaugural episode of 'So Who Cares Anyway?', host Ruth introduces Dr. Debbie Reed, a Reader at the Faculty of Science and Medicine at King's College London. Dr. Reed shares insights from her extensive career, beginning with her tenure in the Royal Navy, her pivotal role in professional development at the Univer...