Posted on: 3 April 2025
Senior leaders came together for CNWL’s Top Leaders event to discuss the challenges facing the Trust and explore strategies to navigate them. With significant financial pressures and an evolving national landscape, the event focused on innovation, productivity and resilience.
“Bring it!” said Chief Executive, Claire Murdoch.
“We need to innovate more than ever and while we can’t control every challenge, we can control how we navigate them. Keep adapting for our patients and when you think you’ve explored every option, look further, learn from others, and stay curious. The NHS is constantly changing and we must move with it.”
Technology and digital health were highlighted as essential tools and leaders shared success stories of AI implementation and digital records management:
- Milton Keynes Paediatric Service has developed an AI platform to collate information and write reports, speeding up assessments and reducing admin time.
- Sexual Health Services have cut PrEP appointment times by streamlining processes, from 39 to 16 minutes.
- The Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes has reduced restraints and improved patient-staff interactions through de-escalation training and simulations, real-time review of incidents, and enhanced safety measures.
- Hillingdon District Nursing has collaborated with providers in North West London to improve patient flow, refining referral processes to maximise nursing resources.
Several divisions shared their achievements, including Jameson’s quality improvement project for inpatient wards, which has enhanced patient experiences and efficiency. Other discussions focused on evolving models of care, integrating community health services in neighbourhoods, and learning from primary care innovations.
Gareth Jarvis, Divisional Medical Director, said:
“There are always new ways to improve patient care and opportunities to do things differently. Even with fewer beds, we’ve been able to make changes, eliminating out of area placements and leading the way across London for 72-hour emergency response rates.”
The recent announcement about the restructuring of NHS England was an important topic. This shift is expected to impact governance and decision-making, and leaders discussed how CNWL can adapt to these changes.
Chief People Officer, Nick Green, reminded us that great care starts with our supporting our workforce.
“Productivity isn’t just about efficiency. It comes from an environment where people feel valued and supported. When staff feel valued, they’re empowered to do their best work, which leads to better care for our patients."
We recognised Catherine Knights, CNWL’s Director of Safety, for reaching an extraordinary milestone in her career. We celebrated Catherine’s commitment to CNWL and the NHS over the past 43 years by presenting her with a long service award. Catherine joined the Trust in 2010, bringing her expertise from Hillingdon services.
