In this episode, I speak with Douglas Hamandishe about the challenges and potential innovations within the NHS. Douglas brings a wealth of experience and a diverse background, including roles as a mental health nurse, CCIO, broadcaster, creative director, and local councillor. His insights are deepened by an engineering background and his practical, hands-on understanding of healthcare systems.

Douglas highlights the difficulties patients face when managing their health independently for most of the year, often with minimal support. He critiques the outdated digital tools and documentation still prevalent in healthcare, emphasising their inadequacy in supporting patient care.

Delving into the structural issues within the NHS that hinder significant innovation. Douglas is critical of the lack of transformational leadership and the resistance to change that persists within the system. We discuss the importance of feeling safe and valued within one's community and the need for sustainable practices, including supporting UK-based industries and addressing public health issues like noise pollution and domestic violence.

Douglas shares his vision for a strong manufacturing and engineering base in the UK, coupled with sustainable energy and British-owned industries. He reflects on how past industry losses have impacted communities, leading to anti-social behaviours and a distrust of authority. They also touch on the lack of trust in health services, especially during the early stages of COVID-19, and how this has further harmed minority communities.

Moving to mental health care, exploring its evolution from a more authoritarian model to a collaborative and autonomy-focused approach. Douglas critiques the current state of mental health facilities and the imbalance between clinician-led care and patient autonomy in electronic patient record systems. His vision for the future includes home-based care and increased emphasis on self-management, supported by monitoring devices.

Douglas also stresses the importance of addressing social determinants of health, advocating for a ‘well-care system’ that considers housing, education, and food as fundamental to overall well-being. Extending to discrimination within the NHS and suppliers, highlighting the need for accountability and the negative impacts of mistrust in technology. He commends the Jabali Men's Network for their work in challenging discrimination and calls for broader action to drive change in the sector.

Lastly, reflecting on Douglas's career journey—from engineering to mental health nursing—and his ongoing passion for digital transformation in the NHS. He underscores the necessity of holding authority figures accountable, fostering allyship, diversity, and inclusion, and simplifying communication within the sector.

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The Digital Ecology Podcast is part of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, your go-to audio destination for the latest in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Discover more at talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.