The Healthcare Today Podcast

A design for patient dignity with Olivia Burns

Our guest today is Olivia Burns, an independent healthcare consultant, healthtech entrepreneur, and a long-term NHS patient.
As one of the first UK survivors of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Olivia has undergone a total of 21 surgeries including three novel open-heart surgeries at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
This significant lived experience, combined with a desire to innovate, led her into the inaugural intake of the NHS Patient Entrepreneur Programme, where she plays a key role in championing patient involvement in medical innovation and policy development.
Olivia is the founder of Hypoplas, a medical design company that reimagines patient care through dignity, sustainability, and practical design. Her star product - a redesigned, patient-centric hospital gown - secured Innovate UK funding, international design rights, and commercial licensing agreements.
Today, we’re talking about the development of Hypoplas and how her own experiences led to its creation, while also covering the incredible importance of patient dignity, how it can lead to faster recovery, and how it can often be overlooked...

The illusion of staffing with Darren Kilroy

Our guest today is Darren Kilroy, medical director at RLDatix, a tech and AI firm offering solutions to better improve patient safety outcomes.
A former Deputy Medical Director at East Cheshire Trust and Executive Medical Director in Chester, he has a particular interest in exploring the intersection of technology and human-centred care.
Today, we’re talking about the currently available tools for job planning, the invisible shift in clinical work, and why consultant time is still being wasted…

The National Cancer Plan and leukaemia diagnosis targets with Fiona Hazell

Our guest today is Fiona Hazell, the chief executive of Leukaemia UK.
Responsible for leading the charity's strategic goals and driving progress for people affected by leukaemia, Fiona is charged with raising awareness of the devastation caused by blood cancers.
The fifth most common cancer type in the UK and the third largest cause of cancer deaths, blood cancers are nevertheless consistently overlooked in a system designed around stageable, solid tumours.
Today, we’re talking about the government’s new National Cancer Plan, the vital importance of early diagnosis and a hope for real change…