The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey

Returning to work after bereavement is one of the hardest things you will ever navigate — and almost nobody talks honestly about what it looks like from the inside. In this episode of The Business of Healthcare, Tara Humphrey shares her personal experience of working while grieving after losing her daughter. This is not a how-to guide. It is an honest, unfiltered account of what grief at work actually feels like — the contradictions, the cost of showing up, and what has genuinely helped. If you are currently working through bereavement, managing a team member who has experienced loss, or trying to understand what grief in the workplace really looks like, this episode is for you. Tara covers: Why professionalism at work is not the same as being okay The deliberate decision to keep work life and home life separate whilst grieving Why well-meaning messages during working hours can make things harder, not easier The difference between distraction and displacement — and why the language matters What hour-by-hour survival actually looks like on the worst days The role of therapy, trusted friendships, and small daily anchors in keeping going What managers and colleagues can do to genuinely support someone returning to work after bereavement Working whilst grieving is incredibly tough. If this reaches even one person who feels less alone because of it, that is enough.

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast, Tara is joined by Dr Steve Taylor, Steve had been a GP Partner in Manchester since 1994 before leaving his partnership in 2021 to work as a locum. He was also a GP trainer for 24 years and involved in training more than 60 GPs. He started advocating for GPs and the NHS more generally in 2021 having more time to look at the issues and potential solutions. This started with exploring the data available and sharing findings via social media. In January 2023 he joined DAUK. This is an honest and thought-provoking conversation that goes beyond headlines, exploring the realities of funding, workforce pressures, and what it will take to secure general practice for the long term. Together, Tara and Steve discuss: Why general practice funding has effectively decreased over the last decade The case for increasing funding by £40 per patient, and what that would mean in practice How current NHS spending may not always be the most cost-effective The role of the Doctors' Association UK and why independent advocacy matters The importance of continuity of care and why it improves patient outcomes Why primary care must have a stronger voice in shaping neighbourhood health Steve also shares his vision for what "good" general practice could look like, including a more proactive, patient-centred approach with annual reviews and improved continuity. Contact Steve using the links below; Twitter/X @drstevetaylor Facebook, NHS Facts and Stats LinkedIn @drstevetaylor Bluesky @drstevetaylor.bsky.social

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast, Tara is joined by Ben Gowland, Director and Principal Consultant at Ockham Healthcare, to discuss the future of primary care, the role of relationships in effective leadership, and what the latest GP contract signals for Primary Care Networks and neighbourhood working. Ben & Tara reflect on how leadership, collaboration and system dynamics have evolved over the last decade, exploring the shift from PCNs towards neighbourhood based working, how leaders can build meaningful relationships in a rapidly changing NHS landscape, and why taking action, even with imperfect information, is often better than waiting for certainty. Along the way, Tara and Ben also reflect on their own professional journeys, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and the realities of navigating complex healthcare systems. Key Takeaways Healthcare leadership rarely follows a simple formula. As Ben explains, success often comes down to relationships, adaptability, and the willingness to make decisions even when the path forward isn't entirely clear. Want to join Ben & Tara at PCN Plus LIVE 2026 on Wednesday 22nd April 2026? This year they'll explore how stronger collaborations, local solutions, and bold ideas can transform the future of healthcare delivery. To find out more, or purchase your ticket visit here.

We've reached the final episode of our How It Got Commissioned series, and this one takes a different perspective. This week, Tara is joined by Jim Gabriel, Chief Commercial Officer of CardMedic, bringing a rare secondary care and commercial lens to one of healthcare's biggest questions: How do you actually sell innovation into the NHS? While many conversations focus on ideas and innovation, Jim explores the reality behind commissioning, the strategy, relationships and science that turn good ideas into funded services. In this episode, we explore: Why innovation must solve a real problem, not just be a good idea The three essentials for commissioning success: need, funding, and authority to spend The hidden complexity of NHS decision-making and procurement Why sales in healthcare is really about relationships, not persuasion The SCOTSMAN methodology and how understanding competition shapes success How innovators can position solutions to survive in a financially pressured system One of the biggest takeaways? Innovation doesn't fail because the idea isn't good, it fails when funding, decision-makers and system priorities don't align. This episode closes the series with practical insight for anyone trying to move from concept to commissioned reality. Connect with Jim Gabriel via LinkedIn here or via email here.

This week on The Business of Healthcare Podcast, we're joined by Dr Neil Modha from Thistlemoor Medical Centre. Neil shares his insights on how primary care practices can identify opportunities, innovate services, and work collaboratively with hospitals to create sustainable, patient-focused solutions. In this episode, we cover: Turning opportunities into action - How Neil transformed unused space into an endoscopy unit in partnership with a hospital. Stacking services for impact - Using one facility to support multiple services, including health & fitness, smoking cessation, and staff well-being. Workforce integration - Sharing staff between pharmacy and medical center to build community and enhance skills. Patient-focused innovation - Creating small group programs tailored to patient needs using a population health management approach. Networking and relationships - Why being active in your system and meeting the right people opens doors for new services. Neil also shares his personal approach to health and fitness, and how leading by example helps inspire both staff and patients. This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to innovate in primary care or create collaborative, community-focused healthcare solutions. Listen back to Neil Modha's previous features on The Business of Healthcare Podcast below; The key ingredients of General Practice Getting rid of the Us & Them from General Practice Tackling Health Inequalities and Transforming Patient Care Connect with Dr Neil Modha here.

In the fifth episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast – How It Got Commissioned series, Tara is joined by Dr Faris Al-Ramadani, GP Partner and former Primary Care Network Clinical Director, to explore how a locally developed mental health service moved from frontline problem to a working, commissionable model during the COVID-19 pandemic. As demand for mental health support rapidly increased, general practice teams were seeing patients struggle to access timely care, with long waiting lists and practical barriers preventing many from engaging with existing services. Rather than waiting for a traditional commissioning process, Faris and colleagues identified an opportunity to use the resources already available within primary care to design a new approach. The conversation explores how the PCN brought together trainee psychological therapists, digital tools and local partners to create a coordinated mental health hub, simplifying referral pathways and reducing friction for patients. By piloting solutions, learning through iteration and demonstrating measurable impact, the team developed a model that improved access while supporting wider system priorities. Tara and Faris also discuss the realities of developing services without guaranteed funding, the importance of collaboration and stakeholder alignment, and what this experience tells us about the future of integrated neighbourhood working. In this episode, they explore: Identifying unmet need through frontline clinical experience Developing services without traditional commissioning routes Using existing workforce and digital solutions to unlock capacity Building a coordinated hub model to simplify patient journeys The role of collaboration across primary care and system partners Learning through iteration and adapting when models don't work first time Demonstrating impact to support sustainability and future funding conversations Connect with Faris Al-Ramadani via LinkedIn here.

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast – How It Got Commissioned, Tara is joined by Rukshana Kapasi, Director of Health at Barnardo's, the UK's largest children's charity. Rukshana shares the story behind a short-term pilot that placed family support workers in A&E to reduce avoidable and repeat attendances by children and young people. What began as a three month, winter-pressures pilot went on to generate compelling evidence, and ultimately informed a national NHS England rollout across seven regions. This conversation is a practical, honest look at commissioning outside the usual tendering routes, the power of VCSE partnerships, and why looking beyond traditional NHS funding streams matters more than ever. In this episode, we explore: The risks and realities of short term pilots, and when they're worth taking Why evidence, outcomes, and confidence data mattered more than access alone The importance of commissioner relationships and senior sponsorship Why starting small, testing, and learning can lead to scalable change Rukshana also shares practical advice for anyone trying to get an idea commissioned that doesn't neatly fit an existing pathway, including why you shouldn't wait for "perfect" data before starting conversations. Connect with Rukshana Kapasi here.

In the third episode of the 'How It Got Commissioned' series, Tara is joined by Dr Selvaseelan Selvarajah to explore how the Same Day Access service was commissioned and developed in Tower Hamlets. Selvaseelan shares the real story behind designing a service from scratch to address one of the biggest pressures in primary care: same day access. Together, they unpack how collaboration between PCNs, commissioners, and local GPs led to a model that works for patients, practices, and the wider system. This conversation goes beyond theory, offering practical insight into commissioning, piloting, workforce design, and the role of data in securing sustainable services. Key takeaways: The three core problems the service was designed to solve: How early involvement of commissioners shaped the business case The difference between Enhanced Access and Same Day Access Why employing local GPs was critical to continuity, quality, and workforce retention How data, utilisation, and patient feedback strengthened the case for ongoing funding Why access alone isn't enough, and how continuity of care fits into the model Top advice for leaders looking to commission similar services

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast – How It Got Commissioned, Tara is joined by Alison Gardiner, Founder of Born Digital Health and Co-Founder & CEO of Sleepstation, a digital health service focused on improving sleep at scale across the NHS. Alison shares the real story behind how Sleepstation was commissioned, scaled, and sustained through major system change, offering practical insight into what commissioners look for, how digital services succeed at scale, and why understanding budgets and context is critical. This episode is about: How Sleepstation moved from a local project to national and regional commissioning Why digital does not automatically mean scalable Understanding NHS budgets and the percentage you're really asking for Working in partnership rather than relying solely on tenders Navigating system change, competition, and shifting commissioning structures The role of data, outcomes, and real-world impact beyond access Why many pilots fail to scale, and how to avoid getting stuck there Alison shares openly what worked, what didn't, and what she's learned from delivering digital services at significant scale within primary care and wider NHS systems. If you're building, commissioning, or supporting digital health innovation, this episode offers grounded, experience-led insight into how services really get commissioned, and sustained, in practice. Visit the Sleepstation website Connect with Alison Gardiner on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Business of Healthcare Podcast – How It Got Commissioned, we speak with Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, CEO and Founder of Patients Know Best, about the commissioning and rollout of personal health records in Northwest London. Mohammad shares insights on the unique challenges of the tender process, the importance of patient consent, and navigating negotiations with key stakeholders. We also explore the role of G-Cloud as a procurement framework and the lessons learned from rapid growth and deployment in the healthcare sector, highlighting how innovation and collaboration drive meaningful change in healthcar In this episode, we explore: How a chance conversation led to a region-wide commissioning opportunity What the G-Cloud framework is, and why it can be a commissioning "superpower" The importance of price transparency The challenges of rapid growth, scale, and cash flow after winning a contract Common mistakes founders make, and what Mohammad would do differently Why understanding context and organisational culture matters as much as the contract itself Mohammad's top advice for leaders trying to get services commissioned outside traditional routes This conversation offers honest reflections, practical insights, and valuable lessons for anyone working in healthcare innovation, commissioning, primary care leadership, or system transformation. Visit the Patients Know Best Website here or connect with Mohammad Al-Ubaydli directly here.