Toby Lambert, director of strategy and policy at Monitor. Photograph: MonitorDescribe your role in one sentence. I lead on what Monitor is doing on a range of health care policies, such as enabling integrated care and how we are going to achieve it.
Why did you want to work in healthcare? My grandfather was a surgeon and always wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but, I studied history instead. Subsequently, I came into healthcare because of the opportunity to make a difference and because simplifying complex problems is what I do best.
How do you want to see the sector change in the next five years? I want to see a leap in how healthcare organisations bring about improvement. This could lead to more integration between the health and social care sectors. In turn, this should enable the sector to provide patients with more responsive, person-centred co-ordinated care.
My proudest achievement at work was ... shaping healthcare reform in Egypt. We got off to a good start then the revolution happened.
The most difficult thing I've dealt with at work is ... trying to join up the work of the national arm's-length bodies so that we pull together in supporting the frontline in treating patients.
The biggest challenge facing the NHS is ... maintaining quality and access in the current financial climate. So, we'll have to find new ways of preventing and managing disease, which in turns means creating new models of care which could mean integration.
The people I work with are ... highly committed and professional.
I do what I do because ... it is the best place where I can make a difference.
Sometimes people think that ... I'm focused on the analysis. Which is true – a few facts always help and increase the chances we might get a workable answer. Doesn't mean I'm not passionate though.
Right now I want to ... get local commissioners to use their freedoms to develop new – and possibly integrated – models of care.
At work I am always learning that ... there's always more to learn.
The one thing always on my mind at work is ... that Monitor treats precisely no patients, but through our work we can effectively promote and protect their interests.
If I could go back 10 years and meet my former self I'd tell them ... to have more fun.
If I could meet my future self I'd expect them to be ... still trying to have more fun.
What is the best part of your job? Working with lots of talented, nice and passionate people.
What is the worst part of your job? The sheer amount of stuff I have to juggle but that's also what makes it fun.
What makes you smile? Sailing, I find it relaxing.
What keeps you awake at night? Reading, normally trashy fantasy novels.
If you would like to feature in our 'Five minutes with ...' series, or know someone who would, then you can let us know by emailing healthcare@theguardian.com
This article is published by Guardian Professional. Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to receive regular emails and exclusive offers.
No comments:
Post a Comment