Michael O'Connor

When a power outage left me dealing with a frustrating, outdated chatbot, it highlighted exactly what’s wrong with digital service today — and how modern AI could transform it. If AI can diagnose a local power fault, it can certainly handle GP triage, manage demand, and end the daily 8am appointment scramble. Here’s why the NHS is on the edge of a breakthrough in patient access and primary care efficiency.

Advanced Foundation Trusts and Integrated Healthcare Organisations will define the next phase of NHS transformation — but operational readiness is only half the story. Success depends on strong leadership, clear communication and a confident public reputation. This article explores how communications and PR can help leaders prepare their Trusts for AFT status and build the credibility needed to lead system-wide change.

Patient stories are the beating heart of healthcare PR. They humanise data, inspire trust, and show the real impact of care. But they must be told ethically — with informed consent, empathy, and respect. In this blog, I explore why patient storytelling builds stronger brands and how healthcare communicators can balance emotion, ethics, and evidence to create lasting impact.