"AHPS have critical role to play in NHS future” says West London NHS CEO

As the NHS navigates difficult times, Allied Health Professionals (AHPS) have a vital role to play in its future, Chief Executive Maria O’Brien said, at West London NHS Trust’s annual conference for AHPs.

“We’re moving through choppy waters in the NHS, and the role AHPs play will be critical in our move from intervention to prevention, from hospital to community. Our AHPs will be really crucial in the next step of the NHS Long Term plan,” she said.

Over 100 AHPs from across the Trust gathered in Ealing yesterday for the event, which included a feature address from The King’s Fund’s Professor Michael West, who is known for his work teamwork, leadership and culture, particularly in healthcare.

The event was hosted by Helen Lycett, Associate Director for Allied Health Professions.

In his address Professor West said the NHS was going through the most difficult time it has ever faced in his lifetime. Citing reports of long waits for patient care, and NHS staff shortages, Professor West told the conference it didn’t have to be this way, adding that compassion was “the single most important intervention we have available to use in healthcare.”

“Compassion isn’t just an emotion; it is also a motivation. Compassion has huge impacts on health outcomes,” he said, adding that everyone (staff and patients) benefits from compassion and that there are cost benefits too for the healthcare industry.

“People are very exhausted. The (NHS) staff survey shows staff stress rising steadily over the last seven or eight years but it’s continued to rise so much so, that now that something like with 1 in 3 NHS staff report being burned out half of the time or all of the time.

“Those levels of burnout are associated with cardiovascular disease, cancers, addiction, diabetes, depression, family breakups… We need to address how we will stop damaging health and wellbeing of people in the NHS. When you think about it, we have the biggest workforce in the country charged with promoting the health and wellbeing of the country and in the process we're damaging the health and wellbeing of a big proportion of our biggest workforce.”

As he stressed the importance of compassionate leadership in improving the NHS, Professor West said leaders needed to ensure that “equity, diversity and inclusion are major themes in the work we do,” so that we “create a culture of inclusion.”

‘Thank you for all you do’

Later, Dr Suhana Ahmed, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the Trust, thanked the AHPs for their work after she witnessed them care for her late father.

“I know first-hand the impact you have on patients and their families, you may not always see it, but there will be so many like my family and I that you would have touched. Thank you for all you do.

“My dad died 18 months ago following a very difficult journey with dementia. I was sitting thinking about all the AHPs that had been involved in his care. The podiatrist who helped managed his diabetic foot. The speech and language therapist who gave us advice when he started to have difficulties swallowing. The physiotherapist that got him back on his feet each time he was admitted to hospital with an infection, and the OT who managed to help get him home every single time he was admitted. So today is not just a thank you from me professionally but also personally for the incredible work that you did,” she said.

The conference also featured wellbeing sessions, an update from Dr Chris Hilton, Chief Operating officer, Local Services, and presentations from staff on research and support workers.

It culminated with awards ceremony acknowledging AHPs for their achievements in the past year.

Here are the winners: