Healthcare technology is evolving fast, but progress brings responsibility. In this episode of The Right Chamber, we look beyond the headlines to explore how AI and digital systems are actually being used inside the NHS, and how AI technology must not be a substitute for professional judgement.

AI already supports clinical decision-making, data analysis, and patient flow. However, as adoption accelerates, new risks emerge. Throughout this episode, we examine where technology adds value and where over-reliance can quietly introduce harm.

Next, the discussion moves from theory to practice. We unpack ambient voice technology, digital transformation, and the unseen infrastructure that keeps hospitals running. Along the way, we explore how good design can reduce administrative burden, improve patient experience, and support staff wellbeing.

Crucially, this episode reinforces one key message: technology must remain a tool, not a substitute for professional judgement. AI can assist, streamline, and enhance, yet it still requires human oversight, ethical governance, and accountability.

Finally, the conversation highlights the digital and corporate teams working behind the scenes. Their work often goes unnoticed, but without it, frontline care simply cannot function.

00:00 Introduction to The Right Chamber Podcast

00:49 Meet Ravinder (Ravi) Sota

02:29 The Role of the Digital, Data, and Tech Teams

03:22 Ravi’s Journey: From Finance to the NHS

07:06 Current Projects and Ambient Voice Tech

08:14 How Ambient Voice Tech Works

15:30 AI in Medicine and Triage

16:18 Addressing Bias in AI

18:42 Misconceptions about IT and Digital Transformation

20:11 Governance, Safety, and National Guidelines

26:27 The Importance of Corporate Services in the NHS

30:00 Advice for Aspiring Tech Professionals

34:40 The Power of Innovation and Listening

35:52 Closing Remarks

Discover how the NHS is navigating AI: carefully, collaboratively, and with people at the centre.

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of The Right Chamber dives into one of the most important challenges in modern healthcare: supporting resident doctors in a system under constant pressure. Dr Richard Alleyne, a palliative medicine consultant and Wellbeing Champion for resident doctors, joins Jasprit and Victor to share practical insights on how senior clinicians can create safer, healthier working environments. He explains why resident doctors often hide their struggles, and he describes how simple check-ins can prevent burnout.

Throughout the conversation, Dr Alleyne highlights the enormous impact of small, intentional actions. For example, he shows how asking a second “Are you okay?” can reveal issues that often stay hidden. Moreover, he stresses that meaningful support does not require long meetings. Instead, it can begin with noticing a change, taking a moment to listen, and offering clear guidance.

To help clinicians do this consistently, Dr Alleyne introduces the SHINE Toolkit. Each step—Spot, Hear, Inquire, Nurture, Escalate—offers a practical way to respond when a colleague seems overwhelmed. The framework gives senior staff a structure they can use even on busy wards. Consequently, teams can act early and reduce the risk of bigger problems.

The episode also explores how small acts of kindness shape team culture. Dr Alleyne shares powerful stories showing how supportive behaviour boosts morale, strengthens trust, and improves patient care. Additionally, he reminds listeners that caring for one another is not optional; it is essential for a healthy workplace.

listeners gain clear strategies for spotting distress, opening supportive conversations, offering encouragement, and signposting colleagues to the right help. These insights benefit consultants, trainees, nurses, and anyone working in fast-paced clinical environments. Ultimately, the discussion encourages every listener to help their colleagues shine—and to build a healthcare system grounded in compassion and awareness, ultimately supporting resident doctors in a system under constant pressure.

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hosts Victor and Jasprit sit down with Ruckie Kahlon to explore hospital pharmacy. Ruckie shares her 25-year journey with the Trust, from pre-registration pharmacist to Chief Pharmacist and Medicines Optimisation lead. She explains how pharmacy within the hospital underpins every patient pathway, from prescribing decisions to administration and monitoring of medicines.

Moreover, she outlines her statutory responsibilities, directly delegated from the Chief Executive, for safe, effective medicines use across The Dudley Group. The conversation reveals the structure of the pharmacy directorate, with about 200 staff in 11 specialist teams.

For example, Ruckie breaks down the roles of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, assistants and apprentices, and how they collaborate daily. She highlights how pharmacists increasingly prescribe independently, while pharmacy technicians take on broader clinical duties at the bedside. Meanwhile, digital systems are reshaping practice, from electronic prescribing to robots that pick, store and dispense medicines with precision. These tools reduce errors, speed up supply and free staff to focus on complex, patient-facing clinical work.

Additionally, Ruckie describes the challenge of medicine shortages and the careful planning needed to protect patient safety. Her teams track supply, secure alternatives, and work closely with clinicians to maintain continuity of essential treatments. On controlled drugs, she explains her role as Accountable Officer and the safeguards that prevent diversion and misuse. Robust policies, audits and ward-level checks ensure every dose is recorded, reviewed and used for genuine patient need.

Furthermore, the episode celebrates the close relationships between pharmacists, doctors and nurses on wards and in clinics. Listeners hear how ward pharmacists join rounds, solve prescribing problems and support junior doctors with real-time advice. As a result, pharmacy becomes visible not just as a dispenser, but as a vital clinical partner in care. If you work in healthcare or simply care about patient safety, this conversation is essential listening.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, share, and subscribe for more real stories from inside the NHS. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe to us on YouTube for more content and updates and to be notified of new episodes.

hosts Jasprit and Victor sit down with Peter Lowe, Group Director of Improvement across Sandwell & West Birmingham (SWBH) and The Dudley Group. They explore what it really takes to build a culture where every NHS colleague can make care better. Peter traces his 25-year NHS journey from the service desk to Deputy CIO, where he led a £32m digital patient record programme. This involved rolling out bedside tablets for vital signs to speed sepsis recognition and improve outcomes. That experience became the springboard for his next challenge: creating a Trust-wide culture of continuous improvement.

What does that look like in practice? Peter breaks it down with refreshing clarity: empowering staff to test ideas, learning visibly from what works (and what doesn’t), and using data to show measurable progress over time. Next, we dig into improvement leadership. The values, habits and day-to-day behaviours that help teams solve problems locally rather than passing everything up the line. Then, you’ll hear why psychological safety is non-negotiable, how to shift from autopilot reactions to scientific thinking, and why small, iterative changes beat big, intimidating plans.

Peter shares practical examples of turning “firefighting” into focused improvement. He also covers how autonomy, mastery and purpose can unlock motivation across 14,000+ staff. Whether you work clinical or non-clinical areas, or you’re simply curious about the people behind the NHS, this conversation offers tools, mindset shifts, and stories you can start using tomorrow.

Get involved / training & support (CPD-accredited):

• improvement.dgt@nhs.net

• improvement.swbh@nhs.net

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, share, and subscribe for more real stories from inside the NHS. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok, and subscribe to us on YouTube for exclusive content and updates.

#nhs #podcast #conversationsthatmatter #improvement #continuousimprovement #russellshallhospital #dudley #blackcountry #healthcare #NHSpodcasts

Learn about moving, handling and dignity in the NHS with hosts Jasprit and Victor as they talk to Paul Featherby-Davis, a nurse of 23 years who now leads moving & handling and core-risk medical device education at The Dudley Group. Paul shares how evidence-based training improves safety for patients and staff. From portable oxygen and infusion pumps to syringe drivers and suction, while supporting colleagues back into work after injury or illness.

Through real cases, Paul shows the impact of getting care right. An end-of-life, plus-size patient received dignified support at home without needing extra medication, preserving precious family time. A man with Parkinson’s, previously turned away twice, completed an ophthalmology procedure in 15 minutes after timed medication and the correct transfer aid.

We discuss common challenges (service pressure, cancellations, device errors) and why the response should be learning, not blame. Paul’s own 2019 experience of being under-dosed after his weight wasn’t recorded now fuels projects that benefit everyone: weighing all inpatients within four hours of arrival (with weigh bridges, bed/hoist scales, and standard deductions for mattresses/linen), tiered handling programmes for acute vs. outpatient teams, respectful language and school outreach around “plus-size,” and new training for medical students and junior doctors.

Mobilisation is everyone’s job. Early movement prevents de-conditioning, protects dignity, and shortens stays. Paul also serves as a trustee with the National Back Exchange, bringing ergonomics and biomechanics research into everyday practice.

If you’re NHS staff or simply curious about the people behind the service, this episode is for you.

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#WorkforceDevelopment #MedicalEducation #NursingEducation #MovingAndHandling #ManualHandling #MedicalDevices #ClinicalTraining #HealthcareLeadership #EveryDayIsASchoolDay

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Produced by the RGUC Digital Media Team – https://iclinical.co.uk/digital-media-links

Music credit: Kalte Ohren (septahelix remix) by septahelix (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/septah… Ft: starfrosch

Introduction

We sit down with Professor Atiq-ur Rehman, a leading vascular surgeon, medical educator and humanitarian whose remarkable journey beautifully bridges continents, compassion, and community impact.

Professor Rehman recounts his path from earning his medical degree in Pakistan to moving to the UK in the early 1990s. He completed advanced surgical training at renowned institutions, including St Mary’s Hospital in London. In 2004, he became a Consultant Vascular Surgeon, marking a major milestone in his career. Alongside his clinical work, he developed a deep passion for teaching and mentorship. He now serves as Director of Medical Education at Russell Hall Hospital. In this role, he continues the educational legacy of his mentor, Mr Ron Grimley.

The Charity Hospital

A central story in this episode is the Abdul Rehman Memorial Trust, founded in memory of his late father. Through this trust, Professor Rehman helped establish Bewal International Hospital in his hometown in Pakistan. The humanitarian project was inspired by the lack of accessible healthcare he witnessed during his childhood. He mobilised support from diaspora communities across the UK to make this vision a reality. Together, they raised nearly £1 million to build a hospital serving the local community. The hospital provides essential services, including maternity care, emergency treatment, dialysis, and free surgical camps.

Through heartfelt reflection, Professor Rehman shares the challenges of sustaining charitable healthcare initiatives. He also celebrates the joy of international collaboration and the power of shared purpose. Ultimately, he believes that being a great doctor begins with being a good human being.

Professor Rehman’s story is a powerful reminder that one person’s vision, grounded in empathy and perseverance, can transform entire communities.

Links related to this episode

Bewal International Hospital – official website – http://www.bewal.com/hospital/

Donate to Abdul Rehman Memorial Trust – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QDHR3SMYDE2CC

BBC News (Midlands Today) – December 2006 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXgH0J3o154

Ron Grimley Bio – https://www.rguc.co.uk/our-academy/

#bewal #abdulrehmanmemorialtrust #humanitarian #charity #pakistan #accesstohealthcare #community

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Produced by the RGUC Digital Media Team – https://iclinical.co.uk/digital-media-links

Music credit: Kalte Ohren (septahelix remix) by septahelix (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/septah… Ft: starfrosch

Introduction:

Professor Sabena Jameel shares her remarkable journey from growing up as the daughter of an Indian immigrant in the Peak District to becoming specialist for professionalism in medicine. She has over 25 experience years as an inner-city GP in Birmingham while simultaneously developing an influential career in medical education.

Sabena reflects on her shift into education in 2006. With the rise of AI, she argues that it is precisely these humane qualities that must now be nurtured. Her PhD explored wisdom in doctors, drawing on the life stories of practitioners identified as particularly wise. Sabena identified attributes such as humility, open-mindedness, reframing challenges, growth mindset, autonomy, healthy boundaries, and a commitment to the “golden rule.”

Professionalism in Medicine:

She explains how her work redefines professionalism beyond mere compliance with rules and regulations, instead rooting it in Aristotelian virtue ethics and practical wisdom. Meaning, the ability to do the right thing at the right time, in the right way, for the right person. This nuanced approach allows doctors to balance honesty with kindness, tailoring their communication to the unique needs of each patient.

Alongside her teaching, Sabena leads major initiatives. She is the professionalism lead for the new MBChB Curriculum 2030. In addition she is academic quality lead, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) lead for the School of Medical Sciences. The emotional challenges of tackling systemic discrimination are discussed, emphasising that fairness, justice, and compassion are inseparable from professionalism. Sabena’s vision is of a medical culture that cultivates wisdom, values, and inclusion, hence ensuring doctors are not only technically skilled but are also deeply humane.

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#professionaldevelopment #professionalisminmedicine #nhs #gp #selfbelief #confidence #equalitydiversityandinclusion #podcastclips #medicalpodcast #healthcarepodcast #doctorlife #mededcommunity #healthcareprofessionals professionalism in medicine

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Produced by the RGUC Digital Media Team – https://iclinical.co.uk/digital-media…

Music credit: Kalte Ohren (septahelix remix) by septahelix (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/septah… Ft: starfrosch