The NHS is the largest employer of black and minority ethnic people, yet research shows the NHS treat black and minority ethnic staff less favourably in their recruitment, promotion, discipline, and career progression. The COVID-19 pandemic and the events following the death of George Floyd have shone a light on how much more need to be done to tackle discrimination. Part of a series of NHS Providers’ work on tackling race inequality, this panel discussion looked at whether enough has been done to continue the conversation about race, and the steps that boards can take to improve the diversity of the workforce and how to support a more inclusive future pipeline of NHS leaders.

On this panel, we welcomed our conference chair Samira Ahmed well known for her work in TV broadcasting and journalism, Patricia Miller who is chief executive at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and Roger Kline a research fellow at Middlesex University.

Released: 15 October 2020

In this episode, we'll be sharing the panel discussion from our session on NHS communications. The pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges for people working in trust communications. Many have found themselves working under incredible pressure and facing sever scrutiny. In this session, we reflected on some of those high-profile situations and the key role communications has in shaping and delivering a response.

On this panel, Ross Wigham who is both deputy director of communications at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation trust and our communication leads network chair, is chairing the session. Our panel speakers are: Michael Carden, head of media and corporate communications at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Emma Casteleijn, director of communications and engagement at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Julie Treharne, head of communications and engagement at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Dan Charlton, director of communications at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Released: 22 October 2020

In this episode we look back on our session focusing on confronting white privilege in the NHS. Racism exists in the NHS, as in wider society. Change will need to be led from the top. In this discussion we explored how trust leaders are challenging themselves and their organisations to identify and tackle race inequality, reflecting on the real harm it causes to staff and patients, and identifying the steps needed to make the NHS anti-racist.

The discussion is chaired by Raj Jain, chief executive at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Pennine Acute Hospital Trust with speakers: Richard Mitchell, chief executive of Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Roisin Fallon Williams, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust  and Patricia Miller, chief executive at Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust.

Released: 29 October 2020

In this episode, we'll be sharing the panel discussion from our session on digital transformation in the NHS. The NHS' response to COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation across health and care. Since then trust boards have placed digital at the heart of the restoration and recovery of services. In this session, Public Digital, who we work closely with to produce our Digital Boards programme, sit beside leaders from Health Education England and NHSX along with two trusts, about the consequences of these new ways of working, and how trust leaders can build strong digital leadership within their organisations.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers chairs the panel, with speakers: Dr Navina Evans, chief executive at Health Education England, Andrew Greenway, Partner of Public Digital, Sam Allen, chief executive at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Chrishni Waring, Chair of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Due to be released: 5 November 2020

21 August, 2019
Following the publication of the interim NHS People Plan, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson speaks to NHS Improvement chair Dido Harding and Health Education England chair Sir David Behan about why the interim plan is a significant moment and offers a good start to addressing workforce challenges in the NHS.

2 September, 2019
Workforce pressures remain the number one concern for NHS trust leaders. Given these challenges, it is important that trusts are able to use the staff available to greatest effect. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a briefing with case studies offering examples of good practice. In this podcast Chris Hopson, NHS Providers’ chief executive, discusses these issues with the CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, Prof Ted Baker.

5 December, 2019
Adam Brimelow, NHS Providers director of communications, speaks to Miriam Deakin, NHS Providers director of policy and strategy, on why social care is such a crucial issue for the NHS.

24 January, 2020
Adam Brimelow sits down with Kevin McNamara, Great Western Hospitals acting chief executive, and Caroline Docking, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals assistant chief executive, to discuss their journeys from communication lead to chief executive.

17 February, 2020
Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers deputy chief executive, speaks to Melanie Walker, our chair of the mental health network and chief executive at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, to discuss what the key opportunities and challenges are for the sector this year and beyond.