Amelia Wilkinson: Living (and parenting) with Type 1 diabetes - beyond the dataPublished on 14 November (World Diabetes Day), this conversation lifts the lid on what most of us miss about Type 1 diabetes - the mental load, the masking, and the trauma that doesn’t show up on a glucose graph.Podcast host Gill Phillips talks with Amelia Wilkinson, diagnosed at 10 and now a mum, about growing up through school exclusions and assumptions. Topics include why behaviour is communication, navigating a high-risk pregnancy, and the power - and limits - of technology. Amelia calls for two big shifts: train the adults around children with Type 1 (teachers, carers, clinicians) to spot the emotional tollAND separate Type 1 and Type 2 awareness, so misconceptions stop harming care.🍋💡🍋 Lemon lightbulbs🍋 Type 1 ≠ Type 2: why the confusion hurts🍋 Grief for a ‘former self’ and the hidden mental health toll🍋 School stories: control, freedom-seeking, and being labelled ‘naughty’🍋 Pregnancy with Type 1: what it really took for Amelia to have her daughter🍋 Masking, peer support, and life beyond the data🍋 Don’t make assumptions – ask how the person is doing, including mental health🍋 Train the grown-ups!🍋 Separate the awareness days!If you work with children and families- or love someone with Type 1 - this one’s for you.LinksType 1 Diabetes: The Comic Book Stories (courtesy of FAB Fab NHS Stuff)World Diabetes DayOverview of Whose ShoesWild Card - Whose Shoes podcast with Aurora Thompson💛 #WorldDiabetesDay #Type1Diabetes #NoHierarchyJustPeople #WhoseShoes #WildCardWe LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease share your thoughts by leaving a review (Spotify or Apple are easiest to leave a review - navigate via 3 dots) and comment on your favourite episodes.I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCard

In this powerful episode of Wild Card  -Whose Shoes?, Gill Phillips talks with Aurora Thompson - a remarkable young woman whose story of trauma, survival, and resilience will stop you in your tracks.Aurora shares her lived experience of abuse,, bullying, mental health crises, and being sectioned as a teenager. She talks about her diagnosis with autism and what difference it has made.But at the heart of her journey is a message of hope: a force she breaks down into four vital elements — connection, love, opportunity, and purpose.🍋 All behaviour is communication - don’t judge, listen.🍋 How is it okay to restrain but not hug?🍋 The cost (emotional and financial) of crisis care versus the value of early intervention🍋 The role of “golden people” — those rare professionals who bring honesty, humour, and humanity🍋 From despair to purpose: how a photo of a therapy dog sparked hope, and how participation work with Barnardo’s became a lifeline🍋 “Aim for the stars and you might just land near the moon” - Aurora’s call to dream big.We also explore diagnostic overshadowing, the importance of holistic care, and why systems must stop lazily labelling children as “complex” and start seeing them as whole people.Aurora is now studying philosophy, working with young people, and speaking out with passion and clarity to help change the system for those who come after her. Her voice is brave, authentic, and unforgettable.🎧 Listen in for a story that is painful, inspiring, and ultimately hopeful - and perhaps take away your own lemon lightbulb or two. 🍋💡🍋We LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease share your thoughts by leaving a review (Spotify or Apple are easiest to leave a review - navigate via 3 dots) and comment on your favourite episodes.I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

🎙️ Wild Card – Whose Shoes? with Gill Phillips Episode: An #IntentionalCoffee with Dr Ben AllenIn this episode, Gill Phillips speaks for the very first time with Dr Ben Allen - transformative GP, former ICB leader, and curious explorer of how the NHS can work better for staff, patients, and communities.Ben and Gill have connected through LinkedIn where Ben describes himself as: "GP, NHS leader, convener and innovator. Releasing potential, creating joyful and effective teams. Supporting large scale improvement."On the podcast, Ben shares his bold decision to step away from a formal leadership role to pursue a two-year “personal learning experiment” - visiting teams, shadowing people across the NHS and beyond, and testing new ways of connecting, leading, and learning.✨ Ben and Gill dive into:Building trust and psychological safety in teams.Why creativity (perhaps a RAP or a ball of wool!) can shift culture.The power of connections and ripples in complex systems.How social media can be more than noise - a space for learning, challenge, and collaboration.The hope found in unlocking the untapped potential of human beings.It’s a rich, hopeful, and energising conversation about leadership, curiosity, and finding new ways to make change happen.🍋💡🍋 Lemon lightbulbs🍋 “Make everything work harder” – capture, share, and amplify learning so others can benefit.🍋 Psychological safety is built when we stretch people’s vulnerability just enough – trust grows through human connection.🍋 Creativity in healthcare (a poem, a musical, a ball of wool!) can feel radical because our systems are so rigid – yet these moments are what people remember.🍋 Impact in complex systems is messy and hard to measure – but ripples matter.🍋 Relationships are as vital as evidence; systems are only as strong as their connections.🍋 Social media isn’t just a hobby – it’s an underused engine for ideas, learning, and collaboration.🍋 Hope comes from recognising untapped potential in people and organisations – not just from more money or resources.🍋 Stepping out of your comfort zone to explore and learn can bring rich rewards.Useful linksFind out more about #CYPWhoseShoes: 'Whose New

🎙 “You’re amazing!” But what if hearing that doesn’t feel amazing at all?In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Gill Phillips meets awesome Benedicte Symcox – parent carer, founder of Tugboat SEND Navigation, and passionate advocate for children and adults with complex needs.Benedicte’s story is breathtaking. From the moment they met at Yvonne Newbold’s wedding (!), Gill and Benedicte struck up an instant connection – and this podcast brings it to life. With wisdom, humour, brutal honesty, and astonishing lived experience, Benedicte takes us on a journey through parenting three very different children – each with their own profound challenges and triumphs.🎧 Expect to hear:The rollercoaster of navigating health, education, and social care systemsTeenage mental health, neurodiversity, and diagnostic overshadowingRaw conversations about suicide, resilience, and “extreme parenting”How Benedicte’s lived experience powers her work supporting other families through TugboatWhy kindness, curiosity and valuing every life are non-negotiables in a broken systemThis episode goes live in #CoProductionWeek - the week that  #MPFTWhoseShoes, the extraordinary Whose Shoes journey to better support children and families, is showcased in Staffordshire.With her signature wit and passion, Benedicte reminds us why real voices matter.This is one for the ninja parents, the professionals trying to do better, and anyone who wants to understand what truly matters.🍋💡🍋 Lemon lightbulbs🍋 Every life matters – regardless of age, ability, or achievements. 🍋 Stay curious, be kind 🍋 No one’s coming to save you – a tough truth from Yvonne Newbold that hits hard but empowers families to take action🍋 Value doesn't come from capability – our culture must stop measuring people’s worth by what they can do or produce🍋 You can't fix what you don't truly see – honest, raw stories like Benedicte’s open eyes and hearts🍋 Children with complex needs are not always ‘inspirational’—they’re human.They get stroppy, funny, scared, brilliant... just like any child🍋 Diagnostic overshadowing destroys lives – assuming one label explains everything leads to devastating gaps in support🍋 We need to talk about suicide – actually talk about it – no euphemisms, no sidestepping. Say

🎙 Episode 67: Dulcie Matthews and Dorothy Hall – Hope, Resilience, and the Spirit of CoventryThis very special VE Day episode of Wild Card – Whose Shoes? is a real treat. 🕊️Join me, Gill Phillips, as I welcome two extraordinary women: Dorothy Hall, familiar to listeners from Episode 64, and her equally inspirational friend Dulcie Matthews, aged 88.Dulcie grew up in wartime Coventry, and shares her moving memories of a city scarred by bombs but brimming with resilience. Her evocative memoir From Paradise to Eden brings the 1940s vividly to life — and today, she brings that world to us through her words, wit, and warmth. 🌸In a beautifully candid conversation, Dulcie and Dorothy reflect on ageing, creativity, and retaining a sense of identity and purpose when society would often rather render older people invisible. ✨ From Dulcie’s lockdown poems and fairy tales for her great-granddaughter to their joyful adventures searching for "fairy doors," this episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and humour.We talk about social prescribing, the healing power of music and nature, grief and resilience — and dreaming up a bold new vision for compassionate care in later life. 🍋💡🍋 Lemon lightbulbs🍋 You are still you Despite how society treats older people, identity, creativity, and inner fire do not fade with age🍋 Stay curious and always say yes Dulcie has stayed open to life’s opportunities, even through deep grief and loss🍋 Creativity is an escape — and a lifeline Nature, writing, fairy stories, and music offer not just escape, but deep healing.🍋 Invisible no more Calling out the way healthcare systems often marginalize older people — and fighting to be seen and heard.🍋 Rediscover your roots Dulcie rekindling her love for Coventry reminds us that reconnecting with our past can offer hope for the future🍋 The world changes — and we adapt From wartime Coventry to lockdown Britain, Dulcie’s reflections show resilience as a constant thread through life🍋 Music unlocks memory, joy, and connection The powerful role of music in both healthcare and daily life — lifting spirits and bridging generations🍋 Imagination is ageless Whether it's fairy tales or reimagining community care, creativity thrives at every a

In this electric, soul-stirring conversation, Dr Guddi Singh joins me to explore what it truly means to radically reimagine health. From the frontline realities of paediatrics to the bold edges of creative health and social justice, Guddi brings her full, vibrant self — and invites us all to do the same.We talk about what’s broken in our health system, why simply fixing sickness isn’t enough, and how real health is built in homes and communities, not hospitals. We shine a light on creative co-production, interdisciplinary approaches, and the untapped power of arts, storytelling and relationships to transform healthcare.Guddi describes herself as a closet creative and lifelong learner, and you’ll hear exactly why — from training citizen scientists to founding WHAM (Wellbeing and Health Action Movement) and leading the Powering Up project.This episode is bursting with energy, honesty, hope¦ and a few well-placed mic drops.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋   Health is not built in hospitals – it’s built in our homes and communities🍋   A child cannot be healthy if the context they live in is sick - we have to treat the context – hunger, poverty, poor housing – not just the symptoms🍋   “I’m a closet creative trapped in the body of a doctor” : Guddi’s mission blends creativity, academia, activism, and medicine to drive meaningful change🍋   The system doesn’t work for patients — and it doesn’t really work for staff🍋   There’s no KPI for what actually matters — to patients or professionals🍋   Maybe the most powerful KPI is: Will you remember this? Did it change you?🍋   Human connection doesn’t fit in a spreadsheet – but it’s what makes the work meaningful.🍋   Fixing health inequalities starts with ordinary clinicians and patients,  and creative approaches 🍋  Powering Up isn’t a project – it’s a movement🍋   It’s hard to lie to kids - Powering up unearthed the real issues🍋   The system may be blind, but our stories can open its eyes🍋   Dance saved my life. Why isn’t creative health part of the NHS mainstream?🍋   We’re lighting up little patches of the world. What if we joined the dots?🍋   We’re not alone — it’s time to bring our lemon lightbulbs togetherLinks:

This special episode of Wild Card – Whose Shoes? is part of The World Podcastathon, a global celebration of podcasts that spark conversation, challenge perspectives, and inspire change.I’m thrilled to welcome the incredible Nicola Enoch, founder and CEO of Down Syndrome UK, a powerhouse advocate who is transforming perceptions, challenging outdated maternity care practices, and empowering families. Nicola’s journey is extraordinary—one that began with fear and stigma when she learned her son, Tom, might have Down syndrome, and evolved into a mission to support parents, shift mindsets, and tackle inequalities head-on.We explore the power of language in maternity care, the importance of early development, and how health inequalities continue to impact people with learning disabilities. Nicola also shares how her organization is training healthcare professionals and educators to see the person first and break down barriers that still exist today.This conversation is raw, real, and packed with lemon lightbulb moments—insights that challenge us all to think differently.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋  Words shape experiences – Describing Down syndrome as a “risk” or “abnormality” impacts how parents feel about their child. Language matters.🍋  Breaking bad news? Or sharing unexpected news? – How healthcare professionals frame a diagnosis makes all the difference.🍋  Assume competence – Expecting less from a child with Down syndrome limits their potential. High expectations open doors.🍋  Health inequalities are real – Diagnostic overshadowing leads to preventable health issues. Parents must advocate fiercely.🍋  Community is everything – Peer support groups are lifelines. No parent should feel alone.This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about maternity care, inclusion, and human stories that challenge stereotypes.🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!Links:We hope you will donate to this important charity - here is how you can find out more!#WildCardWhoseShoes #WorldPodcastathon #DownSyndromeAwareness #ChangingTheNarrative #CoProductionWe LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease

In this powerful episode, Gill Phillips chats with her long-time friend Dorothy Hall, a former social worker and fierce advocate for fairness. They explore the realities of ageism in healthcare.At 82 and a half, Dorothy brings a wealth of lived experience—as a professional, a family carer, and now as someone navigating the NHS as an older person.She highlights the stark contrast between systems that dismiss patients based on age and those that embrace co-production and shared decision-making. Dorothy shares two shocking yet inspiring stories:How she was abruptly denied essential treatment for a genetic condition upon turning 80—without warning, discussion, or a clear clinical rationaleHer journey to access an innovative light therapy treatment for macular degeneration, which remains largely unknown and unavailable on the NHS despite its life-changing potentialInstead of accepting the system’s failings, Dorothy took matters into her own hands—seeking a second opinion, finding more compassionate healthcare providers, and ultimately reclaiming control over her own care.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 Co-production doesn’t stop at 80 - see the person🍋  Healthcare should be about needs, not numbers – age alone should never determine whether someone gets treatment🍋 Patients shouldn’t have to be experts in NICE guidelines or fight for info🍋 Don’t push people into complaints—listen first – most patients don’t want a fight, they just want fair treatment🍋 The complaints process takes a huge toll on people🍋 Empathy transforms healthcare🍋 Joint decision-making rocks!🍋 Short-term cuts create long-term costs – and unnecessary suffering🍋 Rigid NHS systems fail real people – bureaucratic barriers, arbitrary cut-offs, and poor communication leave people helpless🍋  Being  'outside the system' can be a nightmare🍋 Seek a second opinion🍋  Vision loss is life-changing - NHS should embrace this proven, non-invasive macular degeneration preventative treatment🍋  It’s not just about vision - age-related sight loss affects independence, mobility and mental health🍋 Patient advocacy is powerful – knowing your rig

🎙️ Wild Card - Whose Shoes? Podcast 🎙️🎉 Episode 63: Celebrating 10 Years of #MatExp! 🎉Join us for a festive and heartfelt episode as we celebrate a decade of the groundbreaking #MatExp campaign, born from the Whose Shoes? co-production movement! This special Christmas edition revisits the vibrant energy of our 10-year anniversary event held on October 17th, 2024, blending highlights from the session with moving testimonials, joyful moments, and powerful reflections.🍋💡🍋 Why listen?The Evidence Base: Hear live testimonials and stories that showcase the real impact #MatExp has had on maternity care, as shared by parents, healthcare professionals, and changemakers during the celebration.Moments to Remember: From lithotomy challenges and Mexican waves to the iconic #MatExp the Musical, we relive the creativity, courage, and co-production that have defined this journey.Hope for the Future: Reflect on the challenges facing maternity services today and the enduring hope for change, inspired by our community's dedication and innovation.Interactive Fun: Experience the joy of reconnection through breakout room anecdotes, graphic visuals, musical interludes - and even a live rap!🍼 Special shoutouts to the incredible #MatExp community who’ve co-created resources, challenged traditional hierachies, and sparked “lemon lightbulb moments” that continue to improve maternity experiences worldwide.🎄 Whether you’re a Whose Shoes “addict” or discovering us for the first time, this episode is an inspiring celebration of what’s been achieved—and what’s still to come. Together, let’s keep the #MatExp banner flying high!✨ Listen now and feel the festive spirit of co-production in action! ✨Links to some resources mentioned in the podcast:🍋 Celebrating 10 Years of #MatExp - highly visual. Watch on Youtube!🍋 Whose Shoes comes to Brighton - song and dance and CAKE!🍋 The Robin Hood midwives in Sherwood Forest🍋 #FabObs Flo's TED talk

Bonus episode!Dr. George Winder and I pick up from our impactful “Don’t Medicalise Poverty” conversation (Episode 58, Universal Healthcare mini-series). George’s work is refreshing. It goes beyond prescriptions and appointments. It makes healthcare about relationships, community and plain common sense.More human and a lot more doable!We dive into stories that show the true power of social connection – from walking groups that tackle loneliness to blood pressure checks held away from GP practice walls. George opens up about the realities of community-based health: the greatest successes come from local ownership and the simple yet profound impact of listening to peopleWe explore the "why" behind the data, the risks of inactivity, the courage it takes to start where you are, gradually building networks and trustThe stories show that healthcare is a team effort – a team that includes everyone.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 Walking for Wellbeing – A simple walk, a friendly coffee, and a bit of music can do wondersThe best healthcare can start with bringing people together, not with prescriptions🍋 Loneliness as a Health Crisis – Research shows that meaningful social interactions can be as important as vaccinationsCommunity activities like “move to music” and chair-based yoga aren't just exercise; they’re lifelines🍋 Scaling vs. Staying Local – Not everything is meant for mass production.True community-based health relies on local ownership, where the community shapes what they need most🍋 The Power of Passion – Real change happens when people lead with passion. A retired teacher running a children’s reading group from a car park during Covid19 is a reminder that enthusiasm can surmount setbacks!🍋 Inactivity Is a Risk – George nails it with “inactivity can be as dangerous as activity.” When fear of risk paralyzes action, community needs get sidelined.Vital support can be lost.🍋 Meeting People Where They Are – Health isn’t always in the clinic.By bringing blood pressure checks to community spaces, George’s team is reaching those who might never go to a GP🍋 The Pitfall of Opt-in Systems – bureaucracy often leaves behind people in vulnerable situations. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it can mean missing critical care🍋 The elephant in the room - honesty re NHS Resour

In this final episode of our mini-series on universal healthcare, in collaboration with LSBU and the Universal Healthcare Network, we bring it full circle with Prof. Becky Malby, who commissioned this enlightening journey.Over recent episodes, we've delved into stories from remarkable guests who are making universal healthcare real in their communities – from children’s services to outreach for those experiencing homelessness. Together, they’ve shown us the power of curiosity, collaboration, and plain humanity in health care.Becky reflects on their stories and challenges us with a bold question: If they can do it, why can’t everyone? Why aren’t these inspiring, people-centered approaches the norm? It’s a call to reimagine healthcare beyond the appointment system and break down walls that hinder access for the most vulnerable. We discuss everything from the need for team support in complex care, to the irreplaceable role of storytelling, which has shone brightly throughout the series.This episode is an inspiring wrap-up and a rallying cry to make healthcare universal in every sense. Whether you’re in healthcare, policy, or simply curious about a fairer system, this series has laid out the path forward – and it’s one we’ll need to walk together. Thank you for joining us in this exploration. Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 The Outliers' Challenge – If these guys can create truly universal healthcare, why isn’t everyone doing it?  Stop treating these stories as “exceptions”, start making them the norm.🍋 Beyond the Appointment Factory – The NHS is more than an endless round of appointments. Bring care to people; don't just wait for them to show up.🍋 Break Down the Barriers – A phone call to get an appointment can be Everest for those without easy access or trust in the system. Meet people where they are: in a clinic, on the street, or anywhere that works🍋 Curiosity Is the Key – The best hcps aren’t the “know-it-alls” Join the magic, curious people who keep asking, “Who else could help?” and “What’s the full picture here?”🍋 Teamwork - it’s lighter with friends. From school nurses to team huddles, complex care works better (and is way more fun) when you have suppor

We are nearing the end of our mini series of podcasts about universal healthcare, in collaboration with London South Bank University and the Universal Healthcare Network.With the NHS experiencing overwhelming demand, we need radical transformation with more power and resources within communities.So today, Bill Graham, who is a Community Coordinator with Modality Partnership, focuses on community-based solutions!Bill talks about the need for primary care to engage with communities and gives examples of how this works in practice, e.g maximising COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Asian populations and increasing childhood vaccination rates. Bill highlights the success of community-led initiatives, such as health checks at sports events and baby days in shopping centres. Bill also mentions the multi-generational home visiting project and digital outreach initiatives to enhance patient engagement. He calls for more investment in community solutions and stresses the importance of practical, asset-based approaches in healthcare.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 Magic happens when primary care breaks out of the day-to-day cycle and starts to do things differently … High Street health!🍋 Engage with local communities - they have a vital role to play in helping people look after their health 🍋 Get out and about, build relationships with your community and find out what is important to them🍋 This episode has lots of practical examples of how to make healthcare more accessible by taking it out to where people are🍋 Be culturally curious and find out what works for different populations🍋 Shift power and  be imaginative with resources🍋 Be proactive – if people are not coming forward for health checks, try multi-generational home visiting?🍋 Support family carers too - often the unsung heroes of health care🍋 Turn theory and data into ACTION to address health inequalities🍋 Volunteers can help people access health-related technology and start to close the digital divide🍋 Don’t overthink things – start somewhere!Some  links :Universal HealthCare National Inquiry

And so we continue our mini series of podcasts on universal healthcare, in collaboration with London South Bank University and the Universal Healthcare Network!Kim Shutler shares insights on the role of the voluntary sector in healthcare, with a focus on community-based solutions.With the NHS experiencing overwhelming demand, we need radical transformation with more power and resources within communities.Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 Let’s maximise voluntary sector potential in health care🍋 Create the conditions for VCSEs to thrive and transform healthcare by shifting power and resources closer to communities. 🍋 Old system HAS bitten back post-pandemic, due to governance structures and statutory provisions – but we KNOW we can do things more imaginatively!🍋 Success comes from relationships, passionate individuals, a local knowledge🍋 We need a bottom-up approach to healthcare transformation🍋 Value and build trust with communities and local organisations🍋 Collaborate across boundaries to maximise innovation and resources🍋 Make decisions WITH people to avoid unintended consequences🍋 Use imaginative, inclusive ideas like participatory budgeting🍋 Enable small organisations to focus on work, rather than bidding for work🍋 Cut the jargon and hoops to jump through!🍋 Open doors - find out what local voluntary organisations are doing and find opportunities to collaborate🍋 VCSEs should approach local practices and primary care networks to explore partnership opportunities🍋 Primary care can run clinics and health checks in voluntary sector buildings to engage communities 🍋 Different localities require unique solutions, but key principles save you re-inventing the wheel🍋 Decision-making power shift can be uncomfortable for those used to traditional distribution of money🍋 Social prescribing is important to address social needs and reduce medicalisation🍋 Social prescribing is great … but not if there are lots of travel agents and no holidays!!🍋 Practice-based peer support workers with lived experience of mental health problems can provide community-based support, funded by the GP practice🍋 Invest in communities and hand over power to drive change

🎙️ Wildcard Whose Shoes? - “Don’t Medicalise Poverty” with Dr. George Winder, GP in LeedsIn this powerful episode of ‘Wildcard - Whose Shoes?’, host Gill Phillips sits down with Dr. George Winder, a passionate GP from Leeds, to explore a critical issue in healthcare: the medicalisation of poverty. George shares eye-opening stories from his work, revealing how social injustice and poverty affect health and well-being—and why simply prescribing medication isn’t the answer.Gill and George discuss real-life examples of how local care partnerships and community support networks are making a difference in Leeds. From housing and domestic violence to food hunger, George shares his team’s innovative approaches to tackling the root causes of illness. Listen in to learn how co-produced solutions and third-sector collaboration are transforming lives—like “V,” who went from being dependent on medication to becoming a community leader.If you’re passionate about social justice, healthcare reform, or community well-being, this conversation will inspire and challenge you.Tune in and take a walk in someone else’s shoes! 🎧Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋The NHS is medicalising poverty - we need to address the root causes of health inequalities -  the wider determinants of health 🍋 George shares practical examples of how we can work together to create a healthcare system that truly supports those in need🍋 Use asset-based approaches🍋 Focus on addressing need🍋 Go out to where people are, rather than expecting them to come to you🍋 Storytelling is very powerful in this🍋  Co-produced solutions and third-sector collaboration are transforming lives🍋 More resources would mean more people could be helpedLinks to earlier episodes in this Universal Healthcare series:Becky Malby - What is universal healthcare and why does it matter?Tom Holliday - Children get lessWe LOVE it when you leave a review!If you enjoy my podcast and find these conversations usefulplease share your thoughts by leaving a review (Spotify or Apple are easiest to leave a review - navigate via 3 dots) and comment on your favourite episodes.I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.Please r

Here is the first episode of this special mini podcast series, in collaboration with London South Bank University and the Universal Healthcare Network. (You will remember that Episode 56 with Professor Becky Malby was our first ‘bookend’ to introduce this series and tell you why Universal Healthcare is important)Dr Tom Holliday is my first guest to dive in and share examples of how universal healthcare works in practice, breaking down traditional barriers to deliver more personalised care in a more equitable and human way.Tom, as well as being a great friend of mine, is a very forward thinking consultant paediatrician. He is also now leading the Darzi Fellowship programme, with which I work closely every year with Whose Shoes. Children Get Less. Not here! We have put them FIRST!After all, they are our future. Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋🍋 Follow this series to learn ALL about Universal Healthcare - and why it matters!🍋Children are often pushed to the back – so we’re putting them first!🍋 Good healthcare should come to where families are, not expect people to visit lots of separate buildings and specialists🍋 Integrated care is jargon. Best practice care is what we must aim for🍋 It is about providing the holistic care a child needs.🍋When you are passed on from service to service, important information gets lost through the gaps.🍋 It’s all about relationships! Across care boundaries!🍋 If you swap GPs, you shouldn’t have to start again with a new CAMHS referral!🍋 The NHS incentivises and measures activity; it should focus on meeting need🍋 if you meet need, the overall level of need goes down🍋 Third sector organisations need sustainable funding to plan longer term🍋 If you can tackle issues via primary care, people don’t need to come to hospital🍋 Complex problems can be resolved through good multidisciplinary working🍋 If you don’t know the answer, phone a friend!🍋 Physical health and mental health are interconnected🍋 Children get less - especially mental health provision🍋 CYP mental health services might talk in terms of a waiting list🍋 Families, waiting for mental health support, talk in terms of “this isn’t a wait, it’s a life on hold!” 😢 🍋 Prevention and early intervent

 Becky Malby - (Bookend 1)I was delighted when Professor Becky Malby asked me to host a special series of podcasts in collaboration with London South Bank University and the Universal Healthcare network.  We are keen to tell you more about the Universal HealthCare National Inquiry report, why universal healthcare is so important and to introduce you to some of the movers and shakers who are making it happen in different parts of the country. To start (and later finish) the series, we are recording a couple of ‘bookends’, chatting to the inimitable Becky herself to find out more. Becky Malby is a well-known mover and shaker in the world of health care, and I've been proud to work closely with her over the last 10 years or more as an associate of the London South Bank University Health Innovation Lab, and specifically working with each cohort of Darzi fellows using the Whose Shoes? approach to coproduction and helping future healthcare leaders understand more about working with people and finding out what's important to them. I've always been a bit blown away by the work that Becky does, the common sense approach to working out what sits behind problems in healthcare systems, of finding radical and innovative ways to create the best care for people across boundaries.  There is BIG synergy between the goals and values of universal healthcare and Whose Shoes?, for example, the report stresses the importance of seeing things from different perspectives, flattening the hierarchy and bringing people together to have open, honest conversations, to make change across the system. Start small and most importantly, start somewhere. #JFDI #NoHierarchyJustPeople There is also big synergy with the aims of my podcast in terms of seeking out exciting people who are developing innovative healthcare solutions, and sharing them widely. So it's a win win, and we're all excited to be doing this.  So over coming episodes, I'm going to be talking to (at least! – it is having a bit of a snowball effect already!) four more special guests who will give us practical examples of universal health care in action and the difference it's making in their communities.  So what is universal health care? Why does it matter?  Are we in danger of medicalising poverty?What can we do to make things fairer?  Find out by listening to Becky Malby h

When I originally set up the Wild Card - Whose Shoes podcast series, I wanted to provide a way of amplifying the voices of people who inspire me and who are making a difference. Steven Russell simply had to be a guest because his story is so important. Steven tells his own story of growing up as a child in care, the emotional trauma and insecurity that can result, but showing huge resilience and strength, surviving the system.Everyone who works with children or has children in their lives needs to hear it – such an eye-opener about trust, relationships, language, assumptions and so much more. Steven is now inspiring children and young people in similar circumstances to believe that they can be anything they want to be, and role modelling this in such a powerful way.  Steven’s own childhood story is so powerful we focused on that and will record Part 2 to tell you more about this work. You can find out more in the links – Elements - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! #DripByDrip #DayByDayHuge synergy with the #MPFTWhoseShoes project we are doing with the Children and Families’ team of Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust, using Whose Shoes to explore different aspects of their service and how it can be improved. Our forthcoming module, to be launched on 15 July, explores the topic of helping children in care have happy, successful lives. Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋You have to find your own path; no-one can do it for youCommit your goals to paper; make it realStart small and build - drip by drip, day by dayWe all need someone to believe in usLooking back at a turbulent childhood through adult eyes brings new understandingYou can't force trust - you have to grow relationshipsCare records need to be written with sensitivity for the grown-up child to read one dayLoads of different adults telling you different things is confusing and traumaticLearning about your past while still navigating the care system can be overwhelmingThe organismic self - the itch inside you that makes you YOU, desite everythingNature versus nurture - fascinating!Living in care made Steven super adaptableStories resonate because all human beings connect!Links:

I’m so excited to be talking to my good friend Mary Salama, a wonderful consultant paediatrician in Birmingham. Mary is one of my absolute faves - a lovely, warm person, who makes extraordinary things happen, rather than just talking about what needs to change.And to do that for children and young people, has to be the very best thing! Driven by frustration and a deep understanding of the need to improve healthcare systems, Mary focuses on human factors and connecting across boundaries.Mary is leading the way with coproduction and empowering young people, including enabling them to present community research to clinicians at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Clinical Health. Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋Be curious and furious about bringing real actionChildren with clinically complex needs need to go home rather than staying in hospital, if non-medical factors are holding them back – find a way to make it happenListen deeply, learning the language and drivers people are usingThe Canal and Powering Up projects are EXCELLENT examples of coproduction - enabling young people to share their ideas about the future of health careCoproduction must be authentic,  starting with relationship building and creating the conditions for people to  feel safe to discuss difficult topicsLearning from Excellence is powerfulNetworking leads to meaningful connections and potential solutions to share challengesWitnessing positive connections can give people hope and inspire ripples and action, way beyond the original conversationsUse all platforms to amplify the best ideas within the NHS and save people from re-inventing the wheelBreak out of tribal silos!Use creativity to make your voice heard - pink hats, lemons or whatever it takes! #JFDI and don’t forget to have fun!Lyse Edwards talks about a Harry Potter version of Whose Shoes; Mary talks of a Mary Poppins toolkit!Hold an #IntentionalCoffee with someone who

I first met Angela Catley  in the very early days of Whose Shoes?, so back in about 2009, when she did a very lively and slightly bonkers presentation at a conference. I remember how Angela used her slides as just a very rough guide, while telling wonderful stories, and occasionally flicking on from one slide to the next as she went. I found it refreshing!It was full of energy, and she spoke common sense which really resonated with me. She  despaired about bureaucracy and talked about HR type functions as the ‘Stuff department’ - often stuff getting in the way of organisations, and particularly good small providers, trying to get on and run a quality service.You can feel the synergy to my #WhoseShoes work!Angela was working for Community Catalysts, enabling everyday people to develop brilliant, quirky, creative, life-enhancing solutions to their own challenges. I loved it!Fast forward … in this episode, we talk about the ‘When I Get Old’ campaign.We link up with other social movements that celebrate and support people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses, and focus on what matters to people.How we can all get the best out of systems to live – and carry on living – our best lives? Even when we get old.Many of us have banged  the drum for our parents, trying to get the best for them. But we can only pick from available choices, and often we know that this is NOT what they wanted.Have YOU got a clear plan as to what you would like to happen … or are you going ‘La, la, la, la …. Ooooh heck!  Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋Be curious and furious - Furiosity! (shoutout to Mark Adam Smith!) There are SO many splendid, creative people - connect with them!Discover your shared passions - have conversations!Ageing - plan ahead - we can switch from ‘Us’ to ‘Them’ in secondsCare Land. Stuff. … keep it real for real peopleCollaborate - join up with like-minded movements. #StrongerTogetherHead in the sand leads to … La, La,La, La,La ….. oooooh heck!Life is a lottery. We can’t all be David Attenborough in the ageing stakesWill the options you would choose even exist?Crisis … is never a good time to make decisions 

Today, I invite you to meet Dr Matt Hill – I hope you enjoy the warmth and wisdom he brings to this  podcast series as much as I do!I heard Matt speaking at the online NNAP conference, the National Neonatal Audit Programme, which showcased best practice in neonatal care. Matt is the Clinical Adviser on Safety Culture for NHS England and was one of the keynote speakers.He was talking about creating the conditions for a perinatal team to flourish – but it became clear to me that what he said would help ANY healthcare team to flourish.There were so many practical examples of what makes a good team, and how is leads to well-being and a positive safety culture. There was an emphasis on collaboration, inclusion, empathy and relationships. There is huge synergy with our ‘Whose Shoes’ work, particularly around our core principle that you have to create the conditions for meaningful conversations, coproduction and teamwork! Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋Health care in its broadest sense is about people - people caring for each other. Be curious about people; nurture and invest in them; share personal storiesLook for those moments of human interactionCreate space to get to know people as human beings and build trust among colleaguesLearn about and recognise the value and unique contribution each individual bringsKindness and compassion helps good team dynamics, and improves culture and safetyCreate a welcoming environment for new staff membersIntroduce yourself as a person, rather than solely by job title, to foster a more inclusive and connected environmentFlattening the hierarchy in workplace conversations makes it easier for junior members to share their thoughts and feelings with more senior colleaguesRecognise and value diverse perspectives in healthcare, rather than prioritising a narrow viewUnderstand patient experiences and preferences - ask what matters to each person to provide effective careSmall gestures matter, such as using people’s preferred names, in building trust and psychological safetyPeople may have different interpretations of the same words or actionsEstablishing positive relationships improves care outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable peopleFocus on doing things differently, rather than just measuring what we do!If you have enjoy