Craig Ryan

Writer | Reporter | Editor

mip

  • Out now: Winter 2024-25 issue of Healthcare Manager

    The latest issue of Healthcare Manager, the quarterly magazine for managers in the NHS and social care, is out now.

    This one turned into a bit of a ‘reform special’, with the fallout from the Darzi review into the state of the NHS (there’s a very good summary of Lord Darzi’s findings from the NHS Confederation here), and lots of rather bitty statements from ministers on how they might reform the NHS and what might be in the forthcoming ten year plan.

    Cover of Healthcare Manager 62, Winter 2024-25, featuring photo of Ed Garratt.

    So in this issue we look at what the Darzi review means for managers, how the ten year plan needs to be different from previous failed reform plans and at the government’s rather sketchy plans for professional regulation of NHS managers.

    Our main interview is with Ed Garratt, chief executive of the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICBs are the bodies that plan and fund NHS services in your local area). As well as running one of England’s most successful ICBs, Ed leads a whole bunch of task forces and pilot projects that may play a big role in the government’s reforms. What he has to say about the need for compassion and kindness in leadership, investing for the future and doing things differently in the NHS is well worth a read.

    I hope you enjoy this issue. The digital edition is free for everyone to download and read. 

    I’ve been editor of Healthcare Manager since 2016 and have worked on the title since it was launched in 2009. If you want to know more about the magazine or work with us on a story, please drop me a line.

  • Healthcare Manager — 2024 Election Special

    The election special edition of Healthcare Manager is out now.

    Election coverage is difficult. There’s a lot of noise to cut through but very little light shed on the big issues. We’ve tried to look at this election from our readers’ perspective, as people trying to manage health and care services in the most difficult environment since World War II. We’ve set out what we see as the business the next government – red or blue – needs to get done in the NHS. We’ve looked at what the experts say about six big issues – waiting lists, workforce, social care, reform, buildings and technology – and what Labour and the Tories are offering. And we’ve examined four (there are many more) looming trouble spots that you won’t hear much about in the campaign.

    We also have an interview with GP, comedian and health campaigner Dr Phil Hammond, some tips on how to restart your career after redundancy and some frank advice on what to do if you’re being discriminated against at work.

    I hope you enjoy it. The digital edition is free for everyone to download and read. 

    If you would like to know more about Healthcare Manager magazine or work with us on a story, please drop me a line.

  • Managers in Partnership website

    I act as editor for the Managers in Partnership (MiP) website, working with MiP staff, the elected national committee and MiP members to plan, write and publish all the content on the site.

    As part of the development team, I helped to plan the site content and structure, contributed to the technical and visual development of the site, and wrote or edited many of the content pages. Since the site was launched in October 2018, I’ve worked with MiP to maintain and develop the website, and to keep the content fresh, up-to-date and relevant to the union’s 7,000 members.

    I plan and edit most of the site content, contribute many articles myself, write news updates and advice pages, and work with head office on social media promotion of the website content.

    At the moment we are working to integrate our content production, with a single content pipeline for the union’s website and magazine, Healthcare Manager (of which I am also editor). I’m also now reviewing the site structure and ‘static’ pages, to make sure we are providing the information, advice and guidance that members need.

  • MiP election briefing & policy research

    In the run-up to the 2015 general election, I worked with Managers in Partnership (MiP) to develop the union’s policy positions and produce a comprehensive election briefing for members. MiP is the trade union formed jointly by the FDA and Unison to represent senior managers in the NHS and social care.

    I researched and wrote two in-depth discussion documents for MiP’s elected national committee, which set out the policy options on areas such as NHS funding and reform, management practice and accountability, patient safety, staff pay, terms and conditions, workplace culture and equality. This involved extensive consultations both inside and outside the organisation — with political parties, NHS bodies and think tanks such as the King’s Fund and the Health Foundation.

    This work was boiled down into a shorter policy briefing sent to all MiP members early in the election campaign. The briefing document set out the key issues facing the NHS and MiP’s position and included short, clear messages and questions for members to use on social media, at hustings or in communicating with candidates.

    We updated these policy documents for MiP’s campaigning work during the 2017 and 2019 elections, and they will form the starting point for a more wide-ranging policy review planned for 2020-21.

    Download the 2015 Election Briefing