In 2009 NHS junior doctors, Claire Lemer and Emma Stanton, edited a book called “Clinical Leadership: Bridging the divide” (Quay Books), which documents the increasing appetite amongst junior doctors to learn about healthcare policy and management, alongside treating the patient sitting in front of them. Despite this passion, Claire and Emma have found that many junior doctors lacked the opportunity to put this energy back into improving the healthcare system.

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'As individuals, these doctors felt they lacked the power to make change happen. When these agents for change tried to improve things, too often there was little recognition, encouragement or support from the system.'

To fill this void, in December 2009, Claire and Emma set up a social enterprise called Diagnosis. In January 2010, they secured their first six-month contract for a strategic review of a national healthcare charitable foundation. Diagnosis positions itself as a healthcare consultancy for organisations such as the NHS, Department of Health and arms length bodies such as the Health Foundation. Rather than employ staff, Diagnosis invites high potential junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals into a virtual talent pool. Individuals are paid a daily rate to contribute towards a portfolio of projects that can be carried out alongside clinical and other professional commitments.

The Nature of Embryonic Organisations

As with all embryonic organisations, Diagnosis is currently operating on a shoestring. They are exploiting all possible contacts and networks to grow a portfolio of projects. To this, they will assign the brainpower of an already rapidly growing talent pool of enthusiastic junior doctors. They have recently identified a medical student with the technical skills and capability to design the website. However, they currently lack the capital to register the domain name and pay him for his time. Having a website in the future will allow our junior and senior associates to log in to view their current portfolio of projects. Crucially, an online presence will create an awareness and visibility beyond the reach of their face-to-face visits. It will act as a showcase of their work to date, including academic articles published by their associates.

Newly Qualified Executive MBA Graduates

In addition to their clinical training as a Paediatrician (Claire) and a Psychiatrist (Emma), between them they have gained considerable experience of the wider healthcare landscape through secondments at the Department of Health, the World Health Organization, McKinsey and Bupa.

Claire and Emma are both actively involved in enthusing fellow doctors to be more involved in healthcare management and policy. Emma is on the National Leadership Council of the NHS and, until recently, chaired a younger branch of the British Association of Medical Managers, Bammbino. Two years ago, Claire created and ran an apprentice style leadership development programme for junior doctors, the Chief Medical Officer’s Clinical Advisory scheme.

Lessons from Other Industries

There is much that healthcare can learn from other industries about dimensions such as quality improvement, overall strategy and employee engagement. In the future, Diagnosis would like to sponsor individuals from outside healthcare who wish to go to medical school. Too often, employees within the NHS have little exposure to the ‘real’ working world beyond the hospital walls.

'We see enormous value in attracting and training future clinicians with experience from other sectors into the NHS and hope to play a role in doing so.'

For further information on Diagnosis, please contact dremmastanton[at]gmail.com