What is right with the NHS?

This is a guest post by Ian Pettigrew. Ian runs Kingfisher Coaching and blogs at his own website where you can find out more information about the services he offers:

Whenever I work with the NHS, I encounter people who care deeply about what they do, are passionate about the NHS, and are fully engaged in driving positive change. I’m always impressed with the level of engagement, especially given the amount of externally-imposed change and the seemingly constant focus on what is wrong with the NHS.

My worry for the future is two-fold: (1) that the constant change (especially of things that aren’t broken and don’t need changing) will eventually lead to change fatigue and (2) that a constant focus on what is wrong with the NHS will be destructive and will leave NHS staff feeling undervalued and disengaged.

I’ve been pleased to see a lot of activity on Twitter with the hashtag #WithoutTheNHS where people have shared personal stories of where they’d be without the NHS. My personal experience is this; after a serious motorbike accident, #WithoutTheNHS I might well have lost my left leg and the use of my right arm. I am immensely grateful to the NHS that I still have both and I think that the sharing of #WithoutTheNHS stories is a great idea.

I know that the NHS is not perfect, but I also know that a focus on what is right with people and organisations is more energising and motivating than a constant focus on what is wrong. There are great people in the NHS doing great things and driving positive change so can we please stop changing things that aren’t broken and focus on what is right with the NHS. There is a lot.