Images of all speakers who were interviewed as part of the Expert Series.

Expert solutions for NHS' challenges

The Expert Series of videos recognises and addresses the core non-clinical challenges currently being faced across the health and care system today, with experts presenting their thoughts on the potential solutions.

Health and Care
Published on Jul. 05, 2024

Expert solutions

The NHS continues to face significant operational and financial pressures, including historically high elective waiting lists, a substantial maintenance backlog, delays to the New Hospital Programme and ongoing supply chain and workforce challenges. Working together to recognise these challenges and determine what new, innovative solutions could improve governance and compliance, deliver efficiencies, and enhance the patient experience may be required to meet the NHS’ post-pandemic priorities.

Considering how improving capability and capacity in non-clinical interventions can improve the resilience of your organisation may open up new possibilities for impacting patient flow. The Expert Series of videos recognises and addresses the core non-clinical challenges currently being faced across the health and care system today, with experts presenting their thoughts on the potential solutions.

Sodexo supports NHS Chef of the Year programme – Interview with Andy Voice

Healthcare catering is continuing to evolve. Hospitals are focused on delivering nutritious patient meals, modern retail experiences and better environments for staff and visitors.

In this Expert Series video, we speak with Andy Voice, Culinary Development Lead for Sodexo Health & Care, about Sodexo’s support with the NHS Chef of the Year programme and the importance of developing future culinary talent within healthcare. Andy discusses how the competition helps chefs showcase their skills across patient dining and retail catering while supporting innovation, creativity and career development in healthcare catering.

Click here to gain Andy’s expert insight or watch the video now.

AI, data and automation in healthcare for efficient service delivery – Interview with Anand Surana

AI and automation are rapidly transforming healthcare environments, helping hospitals improve efficiency, optimise workflows and enhance patient experiences. From predictive analytics and virtual assistants to smarter workforce management, technology is reshaping how healthcare services are delivered and experienced.

In this Expert Series video, we speak with Anand Surana, CEO and co-founder of ICEGEN, about how AI-powered tools such as chatbots, predictive analytics and workflow platforms like Traczo are helping healthcare providers improve productivity, support frontline teams and deliver more personalised patient care.

He also discusses the future potential of virtual assistant technology, including Dial 50, and how partnerships between organisations like Sodexo and IceGen can help create smarter, more connected healthcare systems.

Click here to gain Anand’s expert insight or watch the video now.

Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), handback and the future of healthcare funding - Interview with Mark Griffiths

PFIs have played an important role in healthcare, from professionalising facilities management to setting new standards for service delivery. With many PFIs now approaching handback, NHS Trusts and SPVs face important decision about transition and the future funding models.

In this Expert Series video, we reflect with Mark Griffiths, founder of WMA Consultancy Services, on the legacy of PFIs, the importance of early preparation for handback and what future investment models might look like for healthcare. He also explores how private partners can improve patient outcomes and support ambitions around digital transformation, ensuring long-term value for the NHS estate.

Click here to gain Mark’s expert insight or watch the video now.

How health & care is evolving through Integrated Care Systems – Interview with Penny Dash

Integrated Care Systems have a common purpose, set of objectives and macro challenges to address. However, at the local level, their priorities differ – meaning the way Integrated Care Partnerships have been established and how their Integrated Care Boards are organised, can vary.

We spoke with Penny Dash, Chair of North West London ICS, about how, by bringing all the organisations together into a place-based partnership, can an ICS focus on improving people’s health and addressing inequalities. Only by ensuring all parties are working towards the same objectives can efficiency and productivity be delivered.

Click here to gain Penny’s expert insight or watch the video now.

Developing the future NHS Estates and Facilities workforce – Interview part 1 with Fiona Daly

The NHS EFM Workforce Action Plan has been published for just over one year. The priorities identified within it look to tackle staff wellbeing, inclusivity and diversity, skills development and attracting new talent. In the last 12 months, there have been some great initiatives and achievements – however, there is still a way to go.

Fiona Daly, National Deputy Director of Estates for NHS England, leads on the implementation of the workforce action plan and we recently spoke with her about the successes and challenges in its delivery. Fiona highlights how the NHS can use data to tackling inequality, the biggest challenge in supporting health & wellbeing and the most essential skills needed for the future – as well as the importance of retaining some critical skills as we move to a more sustainable, greener NHS.

Click here to gain Fiona’s expert insight or watch the video now (part I).

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Future-proofing Estates and Facilities skills – Interview part 2 with Fiona Daly

Delivering safe, fit-for-purpose clinical environments requires an engaged and empowered EFM workforce. Developing people and addressing the skills gap is a core element of NHS England’s Action Plan.

Click here  to gain Fiona’s expert insight or watch the video now (part II).

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Delivering normality in high stress environments – enhancing the patient and retail experience - Interview with Richard Green

Costa Coffee has been voted as the UK public's favourite coffee shop for a 13th consecutive year in a World Coffee Portal survey of more than 5,000 UK consumers. Better outcomes can be achieved through partnership working and a well-known brand, such as Costa Coffee, can support the NHS’ net zero and sustainability goals.

In this expert series video, we discuss with Richard Green, Head of Contract Catering at Costa Coffee, how by partnering with well-known high-street brands, the retail experience can be enhanced to create a sense of normality for both patients and staff in a high stress environment.

Click here to gain Richard’s expert insight or watch the video now.

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A compliant estate to support clinical effectiveness - Interview with Simon Corben

With an 11% increase in the backlog maintenance, NHS England’s EFM team have introduced several short-term interventions to the infrastructure which support clinical delivery and improves patient flow. With a fall of 22% in clinical service incidents caused by infrastructure failure, it is clear progress is being made however, there is a long way to go.

Capital investment, operational effectiveness and compliance and workforce all present both challenges and opportunities which make it an exciting time to work for, and partner with, NHS estates teams.

How will NHSE maximise the opportunities while continuing to tackle the compliance and safety challenges an aging estate presents – we spoke with Simon Corben, Head of Profession and Director of NHS Estates and Facilities to find out more.

Click here to gain Simon's expert insight or watch the video now.

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Decarbonising the NHS supply chain - Interview with Alex Hammond

The NHS, as the first national health system globally to commit to becoming ‘carbon net zero’, must focus on its supply chain emissions, which contribute 60-70% of its total carbon emissions, to achieve its net zero ambition.

In this interview, we speak with Alex Hammond, Head of Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain at NHS England, to find out more about its decarbonisation programme, supplier expectations and wider social value requirements.

Click here to gain Alex's expert insight or watch the video now:

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Using Clinical Technology Management to drive efficiencies - Interview with Dr John Sandha

Clinical Technology Management should be a core part of any organisation’s healthcare strategy. Efficiencies can be gained, and better strategic outcomes delivered, when procuring and maintaining clinical equipment is well managed.

In this Expert Series video, we talk with Dr John Sandham about how some organisations still struggle with the visibility of their clinical asset compliance – leaving areas of vulnerability. Addressing the challenges, opportunities and solutions which are available to healthcare organisations, Dr Sandham also gives his expert view on where he sees healthcare technology management developing in the future and how organisations can gain maximum benefit from integration and Artificial Intelligence.

Click here to gain Dr Sandham’s expert insight or watch the video now.

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Improved outcomes with guidance from dietitians - Interview with Hasina Aktar

Supporting hospitals with quasi-clinical tasks can enhance patient recovery and flow. By understanding the science behind food, which plays a big part in the patient experience, improved outcomes can be achieved.

In this Expert Series video, we explore with Hasina Aktar, Head of Dietetics at Sodexo Health & Care UK&I, how to deliver empowered patient experiences through good nutrition, which in turn can improve patient flow in hospitals. Hasina discusses how dietitians can support patients to become nutritionally well by providing comprehensive and nutritionally complete tailored menus to aid quicker recovery.

Click here to gain Hasina’s expert insight or watch the video now.

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The new National Healthcare Food & Drink Standards - Interview with Phil Shelley

In this Expert Series video we discuss the new National Healthcare Food & Drink Standards with Phil Shelley, Chair of the Hospital Food Review. Highlighting the fantastic opportunity the new standards present for making significant and real change in hospital catering, Phil discusses the important role nutrition and hydration play in a patient’s recovery journey.

By addressing what the standards include, the challenges in meeting them, how they’ll be measured and what the next steps are for NHS England, Phil gives a unique insight into how partnership working can drive innovation and impact patient, visitor and staff wellbeing.

Click here  to gain Phil’s expert insight or watch the video now.

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Insights ahead

With several pressing priorities facing the health and care system and even more potential solutions to address these, we continue to speak with leaders to gain their perspectives, considerations and predictions to bring new thinking on these topics.

Watch this space for fresh insights on the integration across systems, supply chain management and developments in infection prevention.