Episode Three - Dame Caroline Clarke
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In the third episode of the Unprescribed podcast, hosted by Jacob Haddad, Accurx CEO, we welcome Dame Caroline Clarke, Regional Director for the NHS in London, leading the NHS’ work in the capital to improve the health and care of the population with a focus on innovation.
Caroline was previously Deputy Chief Executive (2012-2019) and then Group Chief Executive (2019-2023) at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, leading one of the largest teaching trusts in the country. She started her NHS career as a finance trainee in 1991 and has lived in London for 35 years. She was recently made a Dame for her services to healthcare.
In this episode, Jacob and Caroline delve into Caroline’s inspiring career through various leadership roles, her vision for London to become the healthiest global city, and the importance of partnerships, data and organisational improvement.
Caroline’s path to leadership
Caroline’s path is inspiring, starting as a finance trainee in 1991 and rising through the ranks to become a prominent leader in the NHS in London. She speaks of how she was heavily influenced by her father’s career of public service as a clergyman, and that she wanted to do something where she could give back. She discusses her experience at the Royal Free hospital where she served as Finance Director and was at the forefront of managing financial strains experienced by the NHS in the mid-2010s. She emphasises the importance of working with inspiring teams and maintaining trust as a fundamental part of successful leadership.
Leading through the pandemic
As with all of our guests, Jacob asks Caroline about her experience leading through the pandemic. The Royal Free, known for its infectious disease expertise, was at the centre of early pandemic responses. Caroline speaks passionately about the importance of decentralised leadership and trust during crises, allowing clinical and operational staff the autonomy to make rapid decisions. Jacob and Caroline reflect on the challenges of maintaining innovation post-pandemic, and the need for better scaling of innovations.
Leadership lessons
Caroline’s leadership journey is deeply rooted in humility, accountability and collaboration. She believes in the power of building strong teams, recognising that no leader can do it alone, and places a lot of emphasis on learning from both successes and failures, and the need to create spaces where people feel comfortable doing so.
Vision for London’s healthcare
Looking forward, Caroline speaks of her vision to make London the healthiest global city. Her and Jacob discuss the enormous potential of digital innovations to transform how healthcare is delivered, enhancing access for patients and staff efficiency. Caroline discusses the need to form more partnerships across sectors and with local government and other stakeholders to achieve this, and the need to embrace technology to address public health challenges.
Challenges and opportunities
At the end of the episode, Jacob asks Caroline what her biggest priorities would be if she was running things at the centre today. She discusses making financial rules clearer, reinvigorating the foundation trust regime, creating integrated health organisations and spreading the innovations that work. Despite the challenges facing the NHS, Caroline remains optimistic about the system’s potential.