hsj.co.uk 00 Month 2014 Health Service Journal supplement 0

SOCIALMEDIAPIONEERS

We highlight the work of clinicians, patients and families who have used social media as a powerful force for change and as a way to inspire, campaign, spread best practice and raise awareness

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Download HSJ’s app for iPad and AndroidYou can now access our unrivalled coverage of England’s healthcare system on the move via our new tablet app.

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HSJ208_iPadAds_FP_Pills_Pills_Pills_v1.indd 1 25/09/2013 16:53

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 1

foreword

Emma Maier and Jenni Middleton

Social media is a ubiquitous presence in 2014 society and healthcare is no exception. Clinicians have taken to Twitter to describe their daily practice and its challenges; patients have used Facebook to form virtual support groups for those with the same condition; their friends and relatives have started blogs to share the experience of being a carer.

Within healthcare organisations these developments have not always been welcomed with open arms. In

some quarters there has been outright concern. Worries about patient confidentiality have often mingled with nightmare visions of staff ’s professionalism being undermined by one misguided tweet. The outcome is that, at many organisations, staff are still prevented from accessing social media networks via their work computers. These concerns are understandable. They are also largely misguided, however. The reality is that social media in healthcare – when used effectively and appropriately, of course – offers many potential benefits.

The 12 people we highlight in this supplement, our first Social Media Pioneers, are testament to that fact. These are individuals who have used Twitter, blogs and Facebook to improve healthcare and affect its future.

They are an intentionally diverse bunch – doctors, nurses, patients, relatives, managers – and each has used their online presence to connect with people at all levels and from all backgrounds. That is one of the wonderful things about social media: its ability to flatten hierarchies and destroy boundaries.

How many times have we heard that the NHS needs to become better at sharing information and best practice? That we need to establish better dialogue with patients? That we need to learn from other countries and other sectors?

Social media provides an easy way in which to do all of those things and much more.

We are delighted to celebrate the individuals who have shown the way, and hope their inspiring examples encourage you to consider the potential of social media in your own role.

See you online.Emma Maier is deputy editor of HSJ, @emmamaier,and Jenni Middleton is editor of Nursing Times, @nursingtimesed

For the first year of HSJ’s and Nursing Times’ Social Media pioneers, we sought to celebrate those whose blogs, posts and tweets influence and provoke debate and drive change.

We wanted to highlight those who are using social media tools in new or thoughtful ways to help improve healthcare and shape its future.

During March and April, the editorial teams at HSJ and Nursing Times created a long list of nominees.

This came in large part from nominations from our readers, received via the magazines’ websites

and on Twitter with the #Socialpioneers hashtag. our judging panel met in April at the HSJ and Nursing Times offices to discuss all thenominations.

The only nominees who were not considered were those who lived and worked outside the UK, and those who were members of the judging panel.

Judges considered a range of factors in coming to their decision. Foremost among those they took into account, however, were:Impact and influence To what extent the nominee’s presence on social media could be

considered to have exerted these two qualities.Change To what extent the nominee’s approach to social media was thought to have altered traditional attitudes to communication.Engagement with new audiences To what extent the nominee could be seen as having used social media to engage with new audiences inside and outside the NHS.

Following these discussions, the judges decided to name the 12 people in this supplement as the first HSJ and Nursing Times Social Media pioneers.

Andrew Fisher assistant director – communications and marketing, NHS EmployersShaun Lintern reporter, HSJ Emma Maier deputy editor, HSJJenni Middleton editor, Nursing Times

Editor Nic patonWriter Claire readProject assistant rebecca Thomas

THE JUDGES

One of the wonderful things about social media is its ability to flatten hierarchies and destroy boundaries

the judging process

Your DailY DoseNow in tablet form

Download HSJ’s app for iPad and AndroidYou can now access our unrivalled coverage of England’s healthcare system on the move via our new tablet app.

Visit HsJ.co.uk/subs-packs for details on how to download it now.

HSJ208_iPadAds_FP_Pills_Pills_Pills_v1.indd 1 25/09/2013 16:53

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 1

foreword

Emma Maier and Jenni Middleton

Social media is a ubiquitous presence in 2014 society and healthcare is no exception. Clinicians have taken to Twitter to describe their daily practice and its challenges; patients have used Facebook to form virtual support groups for those with the same condition; their friends and relatives have started blogs to share the experience of being a carer.

Within healthcare organisations these developments have not always been welcomed with open arms. In

some quarters there has been outright concern. Worries about patient confidentiality have often mingled with nightmare visions of staff ’s professionalism being undermined by one misguided tweet. The outcome is that, at many organisations, staff are still prevented from accessing social media networks via their work computers. These concerns are understandable. They are also largely misguided, however. The reality is that social media in healthcare – when used effectively and appropriately, of course – offers many potential benefits.

The 12 people we highlight in this supplement, our first Social Media Pioneers, are testament to that fact. These are individuals who have used Twitter, blogs and Facebook to improve healthcare and affect its future.

They are an intentionally diverse bunch – doctors, nurses, patients, relatives, managers – and each has used their online presence to connect with people at all levels and from all backgrounds. That is one of the wonderful things about social media: its ability to flatten hierarchies and destroy boundaries.

How many times have we heard that the NHS needs to become better at sharing information and best practice? That we need to establish better dialogue with patients? That we need to learn from other countries and other sectors?

Social media provides an easy way in which to do all of those things and much more.

We are delighted to celebrate the individuals who have shown the way, and hope their inspiring examples encourage you to consider the potential of social media in your own role.

See you online.Emma Maier is deputy editor of HSJ, @emmamaier,and Jenni Middleton is editor of Nursing Times, @nursingtimesed

For the first year of HSJ’s and Nursing Times’ Social Media pioneers, we sought to celebrate those whose blogs, posts and tweets influence and provoke debate and drive change.

We wanted to highlight those who are using social media tools in new or thoughtful ways to help improve healthcare and shape its future.

During March and April, the editorial teams at HSJ and Nursing Times created a long list of nominees.

This came in large part from nominations from our readers, received via the magazines’ websites

and on Twitter with the #Socialpioneers hashtag. our judging panel met in April at the HSJ and Nursing Times offices to discuss all thenominations.

The only nominees who were not considered were those who lived and worked outside the UK, and those who were members of the judging panel.

Judges considered a range of factors in coming to their decision. Foremost among those they took into account, however, were:Impact and influence To what extent the nominee’s presence on social media could be

considered to have exerted these two qualities.Change To what extent the nominee’s approach to social media was thought to have altered traditional attitudes to communication.Engagement with new audiences To what extent the nominee could be seen as having used social media to engage with new audiences inside and outside the NHS.

Following these discussions, the judges decided to name the 12 people in this supplement as the first HSJ and Nursing Times Social Media pioneers.

Andrew Fisher assistant director – communications and marketing, NHS EmployersShaun Lintern reporter, HSJ Emma Maier deputy editor, HSJJenni Middleton editor, Nursing Times

Editor Nic patonWriter Claire readProject assistant rebecca Thomas

THE JUDGES

One of the wonderful things about social media is its ability to flatten hierarchies and destroy boundaries

the judging process

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net2 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Julie Bailey is brutally honest about what the NHS needs to do, and embraces social media to spread that message

oUR FIRST eVeR SoCIAL meDIA PIoNeeRS ReVeALeDJulie BaileyFounder, Cure the NHS@curetheNHS www.curethenhs.co.ukJulie founded the Cure the NHS campaign group in 2008, a response to the care her dying mother received on the wards of Stafford General Hospital. She embraced social media early on as a way to bring attention to the significant failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust, and to promote the group’s ultimately successful campaign for a full public inquiry. Made a CBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list, Julie has seen the negative side of social media too, enduring online abuse – not least on the Support Stafford Hospital Facebook page. But she nonetheless remains relentless in her efforts to expose poor patient care, regularly taking to Twitter to share thoughts and make connections with others who have concerns. The post-Francis report aims of her group are wide – to improve patient safety and care within the NHS, provide support and advice to others, and to share its experiences to help influence others. All three are aims being met by Julie’s ongoing and pioneering use of social media.What the judges said “Cure the NHS was the first big patient safety campaign to change the NHS using social media. Julie has continued to

campaign widely on patient safety since the publication of the Francis report, and has been to numerous events where she speaks of her experiences. She then uses social media to connect with the people she has met at those events, and often talks on Twitter about what she is doing, where she is going, and what she wants to do. She has a no-holds-barred approach which typifies the campaign – she and it are brutally honest about what the NHS needs to do, and embrace social media to spread that message.”

Mark BrownFounder, One in Four magazine@MarkOneinFour www.oneinfourmag.orgMark is the editor and founder of One in Four, a quarterly magazine aimed at those with mental health problems. Social action and media is at the heart of what Mark does. The magazine is run by a community interest company at which he serves as development director, and its content is written by citizen journalists who have been touched by mental ill health. The idea is to provide practical advice for fellow members of the “one in four”, but the clear wider aim is to build a user-led movement, and social media has been a key part of the puzzle. In building a Twitter following of more than 10,000, Mark has become one of the most popular and well recognised tweeters on the subject of mental illness. He is keen to develop thinking on social media and digital technology, and particularly its potential value for those affected by mental ill health. His expertise in how social media can drive change and bring people together is now such that he is invited to speak and write on the subject, blogging widely and recently

A recent episode of the BBC documentary series Business Boomers focused on the amazing growth of Amazon, tracking its development from garage-based small business to multinational giant.

It was filled with an array of interesting tidbits but arguably the most memorable was a clip from a 1994 episode of Tomorrow’s World. In it, the earnest presenter – surrounded by a collection of very bulky and very beige computers – explained how “something called the internet” was set to revolutionise the availability of information.

It was a stark reminder of just how far digital communication has come in a short time; a reminder that is particularly important within healthcare.

Those the NHS is recruiting today – the leaders of tomorrow – will never have known a world without the internet. Paediatric and young adult patients will fall into the same category. And soon enough we will have a generation not only of “digital natives” but of social media

natives. It all means healthcare practitioners and organisations are likely to have no choice but to engage with social media. It is where their patients and colleagues will expect to have conversations, and so not to be there would simply not be sustainable.

The growing influence of social media in healthcare is associated with the sustainability of the NHS in a much broader sense, however.

Online networks seem likely to offer solutions to many of the current communication challenges the health service is facing, and provide an extremely positive reason for the growing influence of social media in healthcare.

Take sharing concerns. In the aftermath of the Francis report, much attention has been focused on ensuring staff can speak out without fear and safe in the knowledge that their worries will be suitably investigated.

Twitter provides a simple way to encourage this sort of open environment: a nurse tweeting his or her chief executive a

The growing influence of social media in healthcareSocial media has established itself as a powerful channel for voices in the NHS, whether it is to create professional networks, raise safety concerns or seek support in self management of conditions. participation is no longer optional, writes Claire read

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 3

concern seems far more transparent than other potential methods. It is no coincidence that Twitter has provided a natural home for the Nursing Times Speaking Out Safely campaign.

There is also frequent talk of the importance of the NHS sharing knowledge and

innovation more effectively. Here too social media networks are making a tremendous difference, allowing healthcare professionals to build connections both inside and outside their own organisations. WeNurses is a tremendous example of this, bringing together nurses from across the

world in Twitter conversations. Knowledge and views are being shared, and in some instances huge and valuable professional networks being built.

Let us not fall into the trap of thinking it is only healthcare professionals who are serving to increase the influence of social media in the NHS, however.

In many ways, it is patients who have been the trailblazers (as our list of Social Media Pioneers demonstrates). They began by making electronic connections with fellow sufferers of a condition, and continued by coming together to raise concerns about the standards of treatments at particular institutions.

Surely the next step will be for those working within the health service to fully employ social media to converse with service users? This again will address many of the communication challenges currently being placed in front of health service managers: the question of how to build openness and a genuine dialogue with patients that is based on listening.

Twenty years ago, the internet was the new development. Few could now imagine our lives without it. It seems likely that, in 20 years time, we will be saying the same thing about social media. It has already influenced the health service – but it is only just getting started. l

Two decades ago the internet was just a far fetched rumour – now it is an essential part of everyday life for NHS staff and patients

Julie Bailey weathered great hostility in her quest to highlight poor patient care

Mark Brown is exploring the potential value of digital technology to those affected by mental ill health

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net2 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Julie Bailey is brutally honest about what the NHS needs to do, and embraces social media to spread that message

oUR FIRST eVeR SoCIAL meDIA PIoNeeRS ReVeALeDJulie BaileyFounder, Cure the NHS@curetheNHS www.curethenhs.co.ukJulie founded the Cure the NHS campaign group in 2008, a response to the care her dying mother received on the wards of Stafford General Hospital. She embraced social media early on as a way to bring attention to the significant failings at Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust, and to promote the group’s ultimately successful campaign for a full public inquiry. Made a CBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list, Julie has seen the negative side of social media too, enduring online abuse – not least on the Support Stafford Hospital Facebook page. But she nonetheless remains relentless in her efforts to expose poor patient care, regularly taking to Twitter to share thoughts and make connections with others who have concerns. The post-Francis report aims of her group are wide – to improve patient safety and care within the NHS, provide support and advice to others, and to share its experiences to help influence others. All three are aims being met by Julie’s ongoing and pioneering use of social media.What the judges said “Cure the NHS was the first big patient safety campaign to change the NHS using social media. Julie has continued to

campaign widely on patient safety since the publication of the Francis report, and has been to numerous events where she speaks of her experiences. She then uses social media to connect with the people she has met at those events, and often talks on Twitter about what she is doing, where she is going, and what she wants to do. She has a no-holds-barred approach which typifies the campaign – she and it are brutally honest about what the NHS needs to do, and embrace social media to spread that message.”

Mark BrownFounder, One in Four magazine@MarkOneinFour www.oneinfourmag.orgMark is the editor and founder of One in Four, a quarterly magazine aimed at those with mental health problems. Social action and media is at the heart of what Mark does. The magazine is run by a community interest company at which he serves as development director, and its content is written by citizen journalists who have been touched by mental ill health. The idea is to provide practical advice for fellow members of the “one in four”, but the clear wider aim is to build a user-led movement, and social media has been a key part of the puzzle. In building a Twitter following of more than 10,000, Mark has become one of the most popular and well recognised tweeters on the subject of mental illness. He is keen to develop thinking on social media and digital technology, and particularly its potential value for those affected by mental ill health. His expertise in how social media can drive change and bring people together is now such that he is invited to speak and write on the subject, blogging widely and recently

A recent episode of the BBC documentary series Business Boomers focused on the amazing growth of Amazon, tracking its development from garage-based small business to multinational giant.

It was filled with an array of interesting tidbits but arguably the most memorable was a clip from a 1994 episode of Tomorrow’s World. In it, the earnest presenter – surrounded by a collection of very bulky and very beige computers – explained how “something called the internet” was set to revolutionise the availability of information.

It was a stark reminder of just how far digital communication has come in a short time; a reminder that is particularly important within healthcare.

Those the NHS is recruiting today – the leaders of tomorrow – will never have known a world without the internet. Paediatric and young adult patients will fall into the same category. And soon enough we will have a generation not only of “digital natives” but of social media

natives. It all means healthcare practitioners and organisations are likely to have no choice but to engage with social media. It is where their patients and colleagues will expect to have conversations, and so not to be there would simply not be sustainable.

The growing influence of social media in healthcare is associated with the sustainability of the NHS in a much broader sense, however.

Online networks seem likely to offer solutions to many of the current communication challenges the health service is facing, and provide an extremely positive reason for the growing influence of social media in healthcare.

Take sharing concerns. In the aftermath of the Francis report, much attention has been focused on ensuring staff can speak out without fear and safe in the knowledge that their worries will be suitably investigated.

Twitter provides a simple way to encourage this sort of open environment: a nurse tweeting his or her chief executive a

The growing influence of social media in healthcareSocial media has established itself as a powerful channel for voices in the NHS, whether it is to create professional networks, raise safety concerns or seek support in self management of conditions. participation is no longer optional, writes Claire read

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 3

concern seems far more transparent than other potential methods. It is no coincidence that Twitter has provided a natural home for the Nursing Times Speaking Out Safely campaign.

There is also frequent talk of the importance of the NHS sharing knowledge and

innovation more effectively. Here too social media networks are making a tremendous difference, allowing healthcare professionals to build connections both inside and outside their own organisations. WeNurses is a tremendous example of this, bringing together nurses from across the

world in Twitter conversations. Knowledge and views are being shared, and in some instances huge and valuable professional networks being built.

Let us not fall into the trap of thinking it is only healthcare professionals who are serving to increase the influence of social media in the NHS, however.

In many ways, it is patients who have been the trailblazers (as our list of Social Media Pioneers demonstrates). They began by making electronic connections with fellow sufferers of a condition, and continued by coming together to raise concerns about the standards of treatments at particular institutions.

Surely the next step will be for those working within the health service to fully employ social media to converse with service users? This again will address many of the communication challenges currently being placed in front of health service managers: the question of how to build openness and a genuine dialogue with patients that is based on listening.

Twenty years ago, the internet was the new development. Few could now imagine our lives without it. It seems likely that, in 20 years time, we will be saying the same thing about social media. It has already influenced the health service – but it is only just getting started. l

Two decades ago the internet was just a far fetched rumour – now it is an essential part of everyday life for NHS staff and patients

Julie Bailey weathered great hostility in her quest to highlight poor patient care

Mark Brown is exploring the potential value of digital technology to those affected by mental ill health

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net4 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

speaking at the Health and Care Innovation Expo. His subject was how healthcare professionals can use social media. His co-presenter? Another of our social media pioneers: Teresa Chinn. That is unsurprising when you consider that Mark was recently invited to join the @WeNurses team of health tweeters, where he leads regular chats focused on mental health which are open to both professionals and service users.What the judges said “Having 10,000 followers on Twitter is impressive, particularly for someone who is at a social enterprise and who promotes citizen journalism in mental health. That definitely deserves recognition.”

Teresa ChinnRegistered nurse and founder of WeNurses@AgencyNurse www.teresachinn.co.uk @WeNurses www.wenurses.co.ukNo prizes for guessing who received the highest number of nominations in the inaugural HSJ and Nursing Times hunt for the NHS’s social media pioneers. The founder of the phenomenally successful WeNurses, Teresa first turned to social media when working as an agency nurse. She felt professionally isolated, and wondered whether going online could help her connect with other nurses. She quickly found that it could, and thousands of her peers from all over the world have now made the same discovery thanks to Teresa’s efforts. Close to 17,000 people currently follow the @WeNurses account, senior nurses now use the chats to engage with frontline staff, and the brand has evolved to include chats for other staff groups. Even more impressive is that Teresa has done all this in her own time, with few resources and

little support beyond that from her husband Nick. She has rightly become widely recognised as an expert in the potential of social media in healthcare, delivering workshops, seminars and conference presentations and offering consultancy services. As one of those nominating her simply put it, “what she has done for the nurse community with WeNurses is peerless”. Said another: “She is my role model.” A pioneer by any measure.What the judges said “Teresa was the first person to really mobilise a group of nurses to debate issues that range from everyday frontline care right up to complex clinical issues. And she does and has done it from her backroom, on a shoestring. You cannot imagine the health world on Twitter now without WeNurses, and it has expanded to encompass chats for particular groups of nursing staff as well as separate conversations for pharmacists, paramedics and commissioners. It is a very flexible brand, and it has really served to drive nursing ownership and pride.”

Anne CooperNursing clinical informatics adviser at NHS England@anniecoops www.anniecoops.comAn enthusiastic blogger and an equally enthusiastic tweeter – more than 50,000 140 character missives posted since her first in 2009 – Anne is a well known champion of the use of social media in healthcare. Her belief is that, since those the NHS is treating are increasingly engaging with Twitter, Facebook and the like, healthcare professionals need to understand that new landscape. But she also feels there is the potential to use social media in a positive way as a healthcare professional. She is

What Teresa Chinn has done for the nurse community with WeNurses is peerless

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 5

While we debate the impact of national approaches to IT and data

in the NHS, it is grassroots use of technology that is changing the way we work, communicate and network.

Social media has quickly embedded itself within our daily lives at home and, increasingly, at work. It offers great opportunities for organisations and individuals to listen, engage and have conversations with the people they wish to influence or support on a local, regional and national level.

At NHS Employers we’ve always encouraged the permissive use of social media within the NHS. Our #NHSEngage project helps drive this approach.

We’re all seeing the benefits of engaging via social media. Thousands of staff,

community groups, politicians, patient groups, charities, trade unions and healthcare organisations are already engaging in, and reaping the benefits of, social networking. So who should you be following on Twitter, whose blogs should you be reading, who is using Facebook or other social media sites to communicate?

I’m delighted we’ve had the opportunity to work on this HSJ and Nursing Times supplement to answer these questions.

One thing that was important to the judging panel when it came to deciding on the final list was not just the profile a nominee had online – the quantity of posts, blogs or tweets – but their impact and influence; how they were challenging traditional communication approaches to reach out to and engage with new audiences.

By listening to who you think are the best tweeters and bloggers in the NHS, we’ve compiled what we feel is the “best of the best”. Of course, any such list is subjective and we hope it sparks debate, not least on social media. What are you waiting for? Start following your NHS favourites now.Dean Royles is chief executive of NHS Employers, www.nhsemployers.org, @NHSE_Dean @NHSEmployers

dean roylesthe path to picking our pioneers

perhaps a case in point: she brings a mix of leadership and clinical content to Twitter as well as to her well read blog, and uses both to connect widely with staff. Notably, as someone with type 1 diabetes, she often uses her online presence to speak as a patient. Her WordPress site has a tag dedicated to diabetes, and the pieces are often personal explanations of how she is managing the condition. She has in the past mused about the challenges of establishing an online personality: the need to be a professional but at the same time be true to yourself. It is a challenge she has successfully negotiated, and one our judges noted must be particularly difficult for someone working at as senior a level as she does.What the judges said “I think we need to recognise Anne not so much for her output on social media, even though it is strong, but for her output about social media. She has gone to conferences where she speaks about recognising the importance of understanding that patients increasingly get their information online, and explains this is why healthcare professionals – predominantly nurses, but others too – need to be aware of social media. Everywhere she goes, she gets other people to use social media and she has got a knack for engaging with a wide variety of people on it – she will talk to anyone on Twitter. It is also praiseworthy that a senior figure within NHS England is using social media so extensively.”

Ron DanielsConsultant in anaesthesia and critical care, Heart of England Foundation Trust and founder of the UK Sepsis Trust@SepsisUK sepsistrust.orgRon Daniels has spent the past decade working to increase awareness of a condition

‘Social media offers great opportunities for organisations to have conversations with the people they wish to influence or support’

From left: Teresa Chinn, Anne Cooper and Ron Daniels

Anne Cooper has got a knack for engaging with a wide variety of people on social media

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net4 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

speaking at the Health and Care Innovation Expo. His subject was how healthcare professionals can use social media. His co-presenter? Another of our social media pioneers: Teresa Chinn. That is unsurprising when you consider that Mark was recently invited to join the @WeNurses team of health tweeters, where he leads regular chats focused on mental health which are open to both professionals and service users.What the judges said “Having 10,000 followers on Twitter is impressive, particularly for someone who is at a social enterprise and who promotes citizen journalism in mental health. That definitely deserves recognition.”

Teresa ChinnRegistered nurse and founder of WeNurses@AgencyNurse www.teresachinn.co.uk @WeNurses www.wenurses.co.ukNo prizes for guessing who received the highest number of nominations in the inaugural HSJ and Nursing Times hunt for the NHS’s social media pioneers. The founder of the phenomenally successful WeNurses, Teresa first turned to social media when working as an agency nurse. She felt professionally isolated, and wondered whether going online could help her connect with other nurses. She quickly found that it could, and thousands of her peers from all over the world have now made the same discovery thanks to Teresa’s efforts. Close to 17,000 people currently follow the @WeNurses account, senior nurses now use the chats to engage with frontline staff, and the brand has evolved to include chats for other staff groups. Even more impressive is that Teresa has done all this in her own time, with few resources and

little support beyond that from her husband Nick. She has rightly become widely recognised as an expert in the potential of social media in healthcare, delivering workshops, seminars and conference presentations and offering consultancy services. As one of those nominating her simply put it, “what she has done for the nurse community with WeNurses is peerless”. Said another: “She is my role model.” A pioneer by any measure.What the judges said “Teresa was the first person to really mobilise a group of nurses to debate issues that range from everyday frontline care right up to complex clinical issues. And she does and has done it from her backroom, on a shoestring. You cannot imagine the health world on Twitter now without WeNurses, and it has expanded to encompass chats for particular groups of nursing staff as well as separate conversations for pharmacists, paramedics and commissioners. It is a very flexible brand, and it has really served to drive nursing ownership and pride.”

Anne CooperNursing clinical informatics adviser at NHS England@anniecoops www.anniecoops.comAn enthusiastic blogger and an equally enthusiastic tweeter – more than 50,000 140 character missives posted since her first in 2009 – Anne is a well known champion of the use of social media in healthcare. Her belief is that, since those the NHS is treating are increasingly engaging with Twitter, Facebook and the like, healthcare professionals need to understand that new landscape. But she also feels there is the potential to use social media in a positive way as a healthcare professional. She is

What Teresa Chinn has done for the nurse community with WeNurses is peerless

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 5

While we debate the impact of national approaches to IT and data

in the NHS, it is grassroots use of technology that is changing the way we work, communicate and network.

Social media has quickly embedded itself within our daily lives at home and, increasingly, at work. It offers great opportunities for organisations and individuals to listen, engage and have conversations with the people they wish to influence or support on a local, regional and national level.

At NHS Employers we’ve always encouraged the permissive use of social media within the NHS. Our #NHSEngage project helps drive this approach.

We’re all seeing the benefits of engaging via social media. Thousands of staff,

community groups, politicians, patient groups, charities, trade unions and healthcare organisations are already engaging in, and reaping the benefits of, social networking. So who should you be following on Twitter, whose blogs should you be reading, who is using Facebook or other social media sites to communicate?

I’m delighted we’ve had the opportunity to work on this HSJ and Nursing Times supplement to answer these questions.

One thing that was important to the judging panel when it came to deciding on the final list was not just the profile a nominee had online – the quantity of posts, blogs or tweets – but their impact and influence; how they were challenging traditional communication approaches to reach out to and engage with new audiences.

By listening to who you think are the best tweeters and bloggers in the NHS, we’ve compiled what we feel is the “best of the best”. Of course, any such list is subjective and we hope it sparks debate, not least on social media. What are you waiting for? Start following your NHS favourites now.Dean Royles is chief executive of NHS Employers, www.nhsemployers.org, @NHSE_Dean @NHSEmployers

dean roylesthe path to picking our pioneers

perhaps a case in point: she brings a mix of leadership and clinical content to Twitter as well as to her well read blog, and uses both to connect widely with staff. Notably, as someone with type 1 diabetes, she often uses her online presence to speak as a patient. Her WordPress site has a tag dedicated to diabetes, and the pieces are often personal explanations of how she is managing the condition. She has in the past mused about the challenges of establishing an online personality: the need to be a professional but at the same time be true to yourself. It is a challenge she has successfully negotiated, and one our judges noted must be particularly difficult for someone working at as senior a level as she does.What the judges said “I think we need to recognise Anne not so much for her output on social media, even though it is strong, but for her output about social media. She has gone to conferences where she speaks about recognising the importance of understanding that patients increasingly get their information online, and explains this is why healthcare professionals – predominantly nurses, but others too – need to be aware of social media. Everywhere she goes, she gets other people to use social media and she has got a knack for engaging with a wide variety of people on it – she will talk to anyone on Twitter. It is also praiseworthy that a senior figure within NHS England is using social media so extensively.”

Ron DanielsConsultant in anaesthesia and critical care, Heart of England Foundation Trust and founder of the UK Sepsis Trust@SepsisUK sepsistrust.orgRon Daniels has spent the past decade working to increase awareness of a condition

‘Social media offers great opportunities for organisations to have conversations with the people they wish to influence or support’

From left: Teresa Chinn, Anne Cooper and Ron Daniels

Anne Cooper has got a knack for engaging with a wide variety of people on social media

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net6 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

What Jonathon Fagge writes restores my confidence in NHS leaders and inspires me

which kills 37,000 people each year in the UK and costs the NHS £2.5bn annually: sepsis. In recent years, his efforts have been greatly advanced by the use of social media, including Facebook and Twitter. On the latter, where he posts from the main Sepsis Trust account, Ron has well over 6,000 followers and our judges felt his was a presence that had succeeded in placing sepsis firmly on the agenda of healthcare professionals. At the beginning of April, the hashtag #kissgoodbyetosepsis – created by the family and friends of a young woman who died after developing the condition – gained attention and raised money for the UK Sepsis Trust, of which Dr Daniels is a founder. In his role as chief executive of the Global Sepsis Alliance, meanwhile, he is preparing for the third annual World Sepsis Day, again using Facebook and Twitter to drive attention and support.What the judges said “He has developed a campaign around sepsis, for which he has got political support, and there has been a clear and strong message about it on Twitter. I think there is widespread knowledge about the campaign now, and that’s down to him.”

Jonathon FaggeChief executive of Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group @JonNHSNorwichnhsnorwichceo.blogspot.co.ukOne of a rare breed: a CCG leader who is not

only on social media, but who is using it to discuss the challenges as the new commissioning system continues to bed in. His weekly blog contains a screengrab of his iPhone diary, enabling readers to understand how he has been spending his time. But arguably more valuable still is the accompanying commentary, which offers thoughtful insight into the issues he has encountered during his working week. Take the recent post which discussed the challenge of resolving items of dispute during contract negotiations with the local hospital. He pointed out that it was a somewhat unusual process, not least since “there is going to be a contract: there’s only one hospital, and only one group of commissioners; neither party can step away from the table and decide to go elsewhere”.

In so doing, he offered an interesting insight into how his CCG is attempting to fairly share financial pain with the hospital at the same time as keeping a vision of integrated care alive. Little wonder his tweets alerting followers to new blog posts are being increasingly retweeted by other prominent health figures on social media.

“His blog promotes transparency and understanding,” said one of those who nominated him. “What he writes extends my thinking, widens my knowledge, restores my confidence in NHS leaders and inspires me, and I am sure he does the same for others.

It takes very little effort to join Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Getting professional value out of that membership, however, can be more challenging. Joining a social network does not equate to your work on social media being done. In many ways, you are just getting started.

NHS Employers recently launched a social media toolkit for the health service, which provides tips on how to best use social media.

Although aimed primarily at communications teams, it nevertheless provides advice that will be useful to healthcare workers or organisations

considering diving into the world of social media, including:

What’s my motivation?Why is it that you want to use social media? What is it that you hope to achieve? Do you want to make connections with others in your field? Promote the work that you are doing? Both? Make a note of your objectives and bear them in mind as you start posting.

Align your social media objectives to your overall objectivesHaving worked out what your

Now you’ve signed up, the real work beginsJoining a site such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn might seem like the beginning of an effortless journey of awareness raising, but with some effort and strategic thinking the benefits are much greater

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 7

Norwich CCG chief executive Jonathon Fagge literally opens his diary up to readers so they can see the range of issues he deals with

objectives are in using social media, it’s time to consider how they match your overall objectives.

If, for instance, one of your professional aims is to extend or formalise your professional network then chances are that joining LinkedIn is a sensible move.

But if you find you cannot easily tie your overall objectives to your social media ones, you may need to rethink. Incidentally, do not submit to peer pressure. Just because everyone else seems to be using social media does not mean you necessarily have to.

You talking to me?Think carefully about the groups you want to speak to and engage with. Then think about which site works best. If social media active patients in your area tend to post to a Facebook group, then there is going to be little value in you trying to engage with them via Twitter.

What are you talking about?Reflect on what sort of content you plan to post on social media, and how you will generate it. Think too about how this content will need to vary depending on which groups you are communicating with: what

works for a patient may not work for a colleague. Establishing a personality will be important. Social media is, by its nature, “chatty”. Getting that tone while remaining professional may take some thought.

The timesAll of this work will, of course, take time. But do not fall into the common trap of thinking that your diary is too busy to allow you to engage with social media.

It should not be something you do as an extra but something that helps you do the things you already do more

effectively. Consider, for instance, reaching out to colleagues for advice. Chances are it will be much quicker to do so with a 140 character tweet than it will with an e-mail – and you can expect to get responses from a much wider group of people as well, perhaps some you have never even met or encountered. lNHS Employers’ toolkit contains detailed information on all these points and more, as well as worksheets to help you develop a social media strategy. It can be downloaded free of charge from its website at http://tinyurl.com/n79dse4

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net6 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

What Jonathon Fagge writes restores my confidence in NHS leaders and inspires me

which kills 37,000 people each year in the UK and costs the NHS £2.5bn annually: sepsis. In recent years, his efforts have been greatly advanced by the use of social media, including Facebook and Twitter. On the latter, where he posts from the main Sepsis Trust account, Ron has well over 6,000 followers and our judges felt his was a presence that had succeeded in placing sepsis firmly on the agenda of healthcare professionals. At the beginning of April, the hashtag #kissgoodbyetosepsis – created by the family and friends of a young woman who died after developing the condition – gained attention and raised money for the UK Sepsis Trust, of which Dr Daniels is a founder. In his role as chief executive of the Global Sepsis Alliance, meanwhile, he is preparing for the third annual World Sepsis Day, again using Facebook and Twitter to drive attention and support.What the judges said “He has developed a campaign around sepsis, for which he has got political support, and there has been a clear and strong message about it on Twitter. I think there is widespread knowledge about the campaign now, and that’s down to him.”

Jonathon FaggeChief executive of Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group @JonNHSNorwichnhsnorwichceo.blogspot.co.ukOne of a rare breed: a CCG leader who is not

only on social media, but who is using it to discuss the challenges as the new commissioning system continues to bed in. His weekly blog contains a screengrab of his iPhone diary, enabling readers to understand how he has been spending his time. But arguably more valuable still is the accompanying commentary, which offers thoughtful insight into the issues he has encountered during his working week. Take the recent post which discussed the challenge of resolving items of dispute during contract negotiations with the local hospital. He pointed out that it was a somewhat unusual process, not least since “there is going to be a contract: there’s only one hospital, and only one group of commissioners; neither party can step away from the table and decide to go elsewhere”.

In so doing, he offered an interesting insight into how his CCG is attempting to fairly share financial pain with the hospital at the same time as keeping a vision of integrated care alive. Little wonder his tweets alerting followers to new blog posts are being increasingly retweeted by other prominent health figures on social media.

“His blog promotes transparency and understanding,” said one of those who nominated him. “What he writes extends my thinking, widens my knowledge, restores my confidence in NHS leaders and inspires me, and I am sure he does the same for others.

It takes very little effort to join Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Getting professional value out of that membership, however, can be more challenging. Joining a social network does not equate to your work on social media being done. In many ways, you are just getting started.

NHS Employers recently launched a social media toolkit for the health service, which provides tips on how to best use social media.

Although aimed primarily at communications teams, it nevertheless provides advice that will be useful to healthcare workers or organisations

considering diving into the world of social media, including:

What’s my motivation?Why is it that you want to use social media? What is it that you hope to achieve? Do you want to make connections with others in your field? Promote the work that you are doing? Both? Make a note of your objectives and bear them in mind as you start posting.

Align your social media objectives to your overall objectivesHaving worked out what your

Now you’ve signed up, the real work beginsJoining a site such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn might seem like the beginning of an effortless journey of awareness raising, but with some effort and strategic thinking the benefits are much greater

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 7

Norwich CCG chief executive Jonathon Fagge literally opens his diary up to readers so they can see the range of issues he deals with

objectives are in using social media, it’s time to consider how they match your overall objectives.

If, for instance, one of your professional aims is to extend or formalise your professional network then chances are that joining LinkedIn is a sensible move.

But if you find you cannot easily tie your overall objectives to your social media ones, you may need to rethink. Incidentally, do not submit to peer pressure. Just because everyone else seems to be using social media does not mean you necessarily have to.

You talking to me?Think carefully about the groups you want to speak to and engage with. Then think about which site works best. If social media active patients in your area tend to post to a Facebook group, then there is going to be little value in you trying to engage with them via Twitter.

What are you talking about?Reflect on what sort of content you plan to post on social media, and how you will generate it. Think too about how this content will need to vary depending on which groups you are communicating with: what

works for a patient may not work for a colleague. Establishing a personality will be important. Social media is, by its nature, “chatty”. Getting that tone while remaining professional may take some thought.

The timesAll of this work will, of course, take time. But do not fall into the common trap of thinking that your diary is too busy to allow you to engage with social media.

It should not be something you do as an extra but something that helps you do the things you already do more

effectively. Consider, for instance, reaching out to colleagues for advice. Chances are it will be much quicker to do so with a 140 character tweet than it will with an e-mail – and you can expect to get responses from a much wider group of people as well, perhaps some you have never even met or encountered. lNHS Employers’ toolkit contains detailed information on all these points and more, as well as worksheets to help you develop a social media strategy. It can be downloaded free of charge from its website at http://tinyurl.com/n79dse4

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net8 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Out of thin air, Kate Granger started the #hellomynameis campaign, which is on everything from lanyards to posters

All this, and I’ve never even met him.”What the judges said “He writes really good blogs about clinical commissioning groups. I think he has done a lot to spread knowledge and awareness of what CCGs are doing. Importantly, he also talks about the stresses and strains on him as a CCG lead.”

Kate GrangerSpecialist registrar in elderly medicine@GrangerKatewww.drkategranger.wordpress.com hellomynameis.org.ukThere is surely little that can be written about the inspirational Dr Kate Granger that has not already been said several times over. To rehearse the well known facts: in 2011, as a 29-year-old specialist registrar in elderly medicine, Dr Granger was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer. Within the year she had taken to Twitter and started a blog, sharing her experiences as a doctor and a patient. As a hospital inpatient, one of said experiences was the frequency with which healthcare staff failed to introduce themselves. Cue the #hellomynameis campaign. It was launched in a simple September 2013 blog post in which Kate asked people to leave a comment with a standard introduction they promised to use each time when meeting patients. “I have always been a strong believer in getting to know people’s names as part of building good working relationships with both patients and colleagues,” she explained. “I think it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care and often getting the simple things right means the more complex things will follow more easily and naturally.” Eight months later, #hellomynameis has become a fixture on

Twitter, as well as in the writing and speeches of senior healthcare leaders. The government response to the Francis report made reference to the campaign and Jeremy Hunt cited it in a speech on changing healthcare culture. The culmination has been NHS England establishing the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care. An incredible example of the difference social media – and one pioneering user of it – can make.What the judges said “Kate began with just a few thousand followers when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she’s transformed that into something else entirely. She talked about her own care, and out of thin air created the #hellomynameis campaign which is now on everything from lanyards to posters and which has led people to change their own Twitter handles. That campaign has had a huge impact on Twitter, and on care, through something so incredibly simple. If you were going to name your number one social media pioneer, it would be Kate.”

Helgi JohannssonConsultant anaesthetist, Imperial College Healthcare Trust@traumagasdocIt remains unusual for consultants to be on Twitter, so his presence there was already enough to make Helgi stand out for our judges. But what made them select him as a social media pioneer is the way he has used the microblogging site as an educational tool. Via the hashtag TGDed (TraumaGasDoc education), Helgi tweets advice and facts based on his experience. Some are drawn from teaching sessions at the trust, others based on what happens to be on his mind at the time. The result is that,

From left: Kate Granger, Partha Kar and Helgi Johannsson

22,400Highest number of

followers@grangerkate

47,920Most blog words

jonathon fagge

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 9

each week, he shares several interesting nuggets of information on issues relating to trauma and anaesthesia. Hardly surprising, then, that he has a large following among junior colleagues. Which is not to say more senior individuals aren’t also interested in what he has to say: he counts Brian Jarman, Suzette Woodward and fellow social media pioneers Anne Cooper and Kate Granger among his followers.What the judges said “I like that he is a consultant using Twitter, which is rare, but I especially like that he is using Twitter to help educate junior doctors and that he has created a hashtag to do it. He is a very well respected consultant, and he engages with juniors very well via social media.”

Partha KarClinical director, diabetes and endocrinology, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust@parthaskar nhssugardoc.blogspot.co.ukOur judges appreciated Partha’s blog as well as his tweets and his presence on Facebook. They find his postings particularly interesting for the regular focus on integrated care. Partha pioneered The Super Six Model of diabetes care, which won a 2012 HSJ/Nursing Times Care Integration Award. In his social media postings he talks about how he works closely with local CCG leads and other local trusts. One nominee said: “He has written a blog for two years, posting each week without fail, which is always interesting and insightful about his own service, the Department of Health, current thinking and diabetes. He connects with the NHS and diabetes world using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and has become well known in diabetes circles as a social media pioneer.” Partha stands out not only for

Helgi Johannsson is a very well respected consultant and he engages with juniors very well via social media

It’s not only about broadcasting, listen tooTwitter is of course a great way to share your views, thoughts and experiences. But the truly

great tweeters are the ones who listen as well, and this is particularly true if you are seeking to engage with patients.

Don’t be shy, be snappy and use a pictureSocial media works best when people feel like they are talking to people. So while it might feel

mortifying to upload a photo of yourself that you know will appear alongside every tweet, try to overcome your embarrassment. It will make your account much more personal and people more inclined to follow – even to approach you when they recognise you at events.

Use links to get lengthierIt can be difficult to cram everything into 140 characters, so do not hesitate to use links when appropriate. Twitter will automatically compress these but you may want to investigate bitly.com. This does the same job with the added bonus of allowing you to track who has clicked on your link.

Consider using TweetDeckTwitter moves ridiculously quickly and it can be very difficult to keep track. TweetDeck, which is a free download (https://about.

twitter.com/products/tweetdeck), makes it far easier to keep track of topics and specific users. It also allows you to schedule your own tweets.

Chat? Now you’re talkingTwitter chats are an excellent way to build up your networks. If you work in nursing, WeNurses and the Nursing Times chat (Wednesdays at

1pm on #NTtwitchat) are excellent first ports of call.

The people you should be followingThere is, as this supplement illustrates, no shortage of

interesting healthcare commentators on social media. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to following people. To that end we have put together our list of top healthcare tweeters. Follow any of these, and other names we have collated through the link https://twitter.com/HSJnews/lists/social-pioneers, and we think you’ll be guaranteed thought provoking 140 character messages:

● Grumbling Appendix @grumblingA● reverend Dave Southall @revdavesouthall● Dame ruth Carnall @ruthcarnall● Tim Kelsey @tkelsey1

fiVe ideas for getting More out of twitter

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net8 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Out of thin air, Kate Granger started the #hellomynameis campaign, which is on everything from lanyards to posters

All this, and I’ve never even met him.”What the judges said “He writes really good blogs about clinical commissioning groups. I think he has done a lot to spread knowledge and awareness of what CCGs are doing. Importantly, he also talks about the stresses and strains on him as a CCG lead.”

Kate GrangerSpecialist registrar in elderly medicine@GrangerKatewww.drkategranger.wordpress.com hellomynameis.org.ukThere is surely little that can be written about the inspirational Dr Kate Granger that has not already been said several times over. To rehearse the well known facts: in 2011, as a 29-year-old specialist registrar in elderly medicine, Dr Granger was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer. Within the year she had taken to Twitter and started a blog, sharing her experiences as a doctor and a patient. As a hospital inpatient, one of said experiences was the frequency with which healthcare staff failed to introduce themselves. Cue the #hellomynameis campaign. It was launched in a simple September 2013 blog post in which Kate asked people to leave a comment with a standard introduction they promised to use each time when meeting patients. “I have always been a strong believer in getting to know people’s names as part of building good working relationships with both patients and colleagues,” she explained. “I think it is the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care and often getting the simple things right means the more complex things will follow more easily and naturally.” Eight months later, #hellomynameis has become a fixture on

Twitter, as well as in the writing and speeches of senior healthcare leaders. The government response to the Francis report made reference to the campaign and Jeremy Hunt cited it in a speech on changing healthcare culture. The culmination has been NHS England establishing the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care. An incredible example of the difference social media – and one pioneering user of it – can make.What the judges said “Kate began with just a few thousand followers when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she’s transformed that into something else entirely. She talked about her own care, and out of thin air created the #hellomynameis campaign which is now on everything from lanyards to posters and which has led people to change their own Twitter handles. That campaign has had a huge impact on Twitter, and on care, through something so incredibly simple. If you were going to name your number one social media pioneer, it would be Kate.”

Helgi JohannssonConsultant anaesthetist, Imperial College Healthcare Trust@traumagasdocIt remains unusual for consultants to be on Twitter, so his presence there was already enough to make Helgi stand out for our judges. But what made them select him as a social media pioneer is the way he has used the microblogging site as an educational tool. Via the hashtag TGDed (TraumaGasDoc education), Helgi tweets advice and facts based on his experience. Some are drawn from teaching sessions at the trust, others based on what happens to be on his mind at the time. The result is that,

From left: Kate Granger, Partha Kar and Helgi Johannsson

22,400Highest number of

followers@grangerkate

47,920Most blog words

jonathon fagge

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 9

each week, he shares several interesting nuggets of information on issues relating to trauma and anaesthesia. Hardly surprising, then, that he has a large following among junior colleagues. Which is not to say more senior individuals aren’t also interested in what he has to say: he counts Brian Jarman, Suzette Woodward and fellow social media pioneers Anne Cooper and Kate Granger among his followers.What the judges said “I like that he is a consultant using Twitter, which is rare, but I especially like that he is using Twitter to help educate junior doctors and that he has created a hashtag to do it. He is a very well respected consultant, and he engages with juniors very well via social media.”

Partha KarClinical director, diabetes and endocrinology, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust@parthaskar nhssugardoc.blogspot.co.ukOur judges appreciated Partha’s blog as well as his tweets and his presence on Facebook. They find his postings particularly interesting for the regular focus on integrated care. Partha pioneered The Super Six Model of diabetes care, which won a 2012 HSJ/Nursing Times Care Integration Award. In his social media postings he talks about how he works closely with local CCG leads and other local trusts. One nominee said: “He has written a blog for two years, posting each week without fail, which is always interesting and insightful about his own service, the Department of Health, current thinking and diabetes. He connects with the NHS and diabetes world using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and has become well known in diabetes circles as a social media pioneer.” Partha stands out not only for

Helgi Johannsson is a very well respected consultant and he engages with juniors very well via social media

It’s not only about broadcasting, listen tooTwitter is of course a great way to share your views, thoughts and experiences. But the truly

great tweeters are the ones who listen as well, and this is particularly true if you are seeking to engage with patients.

Don’t be shy, be snappy and use a pictureSocial media works best when people feel like they are talking to people. So while it might feel

mortifying to upload a photo of yourself that you know will appear alongside every tweet, try to overcome your embarrassment. It will make your account much more personal and people more inclined to follow – even to approach you when they recognise you at events.

Use links to get lengthierIt can be difficult to cram everything into 140 characters, so do not hesitate to use links when appropriate. Twitter will automatically compress these but you may want to investigate bitly.com. This does the same job with the added bonus of allowing you to track who has clicked on your link.

Consider using TweetDeckTwitter moves ridiculously quickly and it can be very difficult to keep track. TweetDeck, which is a free download (https://about.

twitter.com/products/tweetdeck), makes it far easier to keep track of topics and specific users. It also allows you to schedule your own tweets.

Chat? Now you’re talkingTwitter chats are an excellent way to build up your networks. If you work in nursing, WeNurses and the Nursing Times chat (Wednesdays at

1pm on #NTtwitchat) are excellent first ports of call.

The people you should be followingThere is, as this supplement illustrates, no shortage of

interesting healthcare commentators on social media. So many, in fact, that it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to following people. To that end we have put together our list of top healthcare tweeters. Follow any of these, and other names we have collated through the link https://twitter.com/HSJnews/lists/social-pioneers, and we think you’ll be guaranteed thought provoking 140 character messages:

● Grumbling Appendix @grumblingA● reverend Dave Southall @revdavesouthall● Dame ruth Carnall @ruthcarnall● Tim Kelsey @tkelsey1

fiVe ideas for getting More out of twitter

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net

Stuart Poynor has made social media websites available on trust computers to all staff

74,766followers5 womeN

7 meN204,456words blogged

321blog posts

10 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

See our interactive graphic at hsj.co.uk/social-pioneers or nursingtimes.net/social-pioneersFind out more about the people who have changed the way the health world communicates by clicking on the pioneers who interest you. This interactive feature includes extra infographics and links to each pioneer’s online presence

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 11

showing where the NHS is but for showing where it needs to be – and for offering a concrete example of how we can get there.What the judges said “His blog has really interesting pieces about the NHS and changing culture which are retweeted widely. His service works across organisational boundaries so what he writes is not just the usual stuff; it’s really insightful and he tweets it to people whom he thinks might be interested. In other words, he’s using social media not to broadcast but to personally interact. That deserves praise.”

Sally-Ann MarcianoProject specialist for Skills for Health and emergency care nurse@nursemaiden rayissunshine.blogspot.co.ukSally-Ann Marciano started blogging in the final year of her father’s life. Ray was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and his nurse daughter took to the internet to share reflections on the poor quality of care often afforded to those with dementia. She reflected too on how she and her mother were affected by her father’s slow decline, and the loneliness of their lives given that no one person was responsible for coordinating his care. Along with her active Twitter account, the blog forms a powerful campaign to improve the care of people with dementia. It is one that has gained the attention of senior policy makers. Sally-Ann was a member of the Department of Health task and finish group on dementia nursing, and has been a panel member at the RCGP’s

annual conference on dementia. She continues to campaign for investment in special dementia nurses, whom she argues would help ensure continuity of care for those with dementia and their families.What the judges said “To blog and tweet very personally about the battles you are having over the care of your father was in itself pioneering: she was one of the first to do that. She really brought attention to the issue of poor care for those with dementia. Her words and story struck a chord with everybody, and she has now impressively spoken at conferences. We are also keen to highlight the work of someone who has focused attention around poor mental healthcare.”

Stuart PoynorChief executive of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust@stuartpoynorBy his own confession, all Stuart’s tweets “are work, Leicester City Football Club or dog related”. Set aside the football and pet-related messages, then, and you are left with a trust chief executive using social media to drive culture change in the NHS. Stuart has demonstrated true commitment to supporting staff to raise concerns via social media, inviting feedback via Twitter and encouraging other organisations to join the Nursing Times Speaking Out Safely campaign. He also encourages questions and comments from service users, and offers electronic advice and support to colleagues in other parts of the country. It was via

Stuart Poynor is actively seeking to change the culture of the NHS, and his use of social media is an important part of that work

pHIL

WrI

GG

LESW

orT

H

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net

Stuart Poynor has made social media websites available on trust computers to all staff

74,766followers5 womeN

7 meN204,456words blogged

321blog posts

10 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

See our interactive graphic at hsj.co.uk/social-pioneers or nursingtimes.net/social-pioneersFind out more about the people who have changed the way the health world communicates by clicking on the pioneers who interest you. This interactive feature includes extra infographics and links to each pioneer’s online presence

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net 30 May 2014 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 11

showing where the NHS is but for showing where it needs to be – and for offering a concrete example of how we can get there.What the judges said “His blog has really interesting pieces about the NHS and changing culture which are retweeted widely. His service works across organisational boundaries so what he writes is not just the usual stuff; it’s really insightful and he tweets it to people whom he thinks might be interested. In other words, he’s using social media not to broadcast but to personally interact. That deserves praise.”

Sally-Ann MarcianoProject specialist for Skills for Health and emergency care nurse@nursemaiden rayissunshine.blogspot.co.ukSally-Ann Marciano started blogging in the final year of her father’s life. Ray was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and his nurse daughter took to the internet to share reflections on the poor quality of care often afforded to those with dementia. She reflected too on how she and her mother were affected by her father’s slow decline, and the loneliness of their lives given that no one person was responsible for coordinating his care. Along with her active Twitter account, the blog forms a powerful campaign to improve the care of people with dementia. It is one that has gained the attention of senior policy makers. Sally-Ann was a member of the Department of Health task and finish group on dementia nursing, and has been a panel member at the RCGP’s

annual conference on dementia. She continues to campaign for investment in special dementia nurses, whom she argues would help ensure continuity of care for those with dementia and their families.What the judges said “To blog and tweet very personally about the battles you are having over the care of your father was in itself pioneering: she was one of the first to do that. She really brought attention to the issue of poor care for those with dementia. Her words and story struck a chord with everybody, and she has now impressively spoken at conferences. We are also keen to highlight the work of someone who has focused attention around poor mental healthcare.”

Stuart PoynorChief executive of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Trust@stuartpoynorBy his own confession, all Stuart’s tweets “are work, Leicester City Football Club or dog related”. Set aside the football and pet-related messages, then, and you are left with a trust chief executive using social media to drive culture change in the NHS. Stuart has demonstrated true commitment to supporting staff to raise concerns via social media, inviting feedback via Twitter and encouraging other organisations to join the Nursing Times Speaking Out Safely campaign. He also encourages questions and comments from service users, and offers electronic advice and support to colleagues in other parts of the country. It was via

Stuart Poynor is actively seeking to change the culture of the NHS, and his use of social media is an important part of that work

pHIL

WrI

GG

LESW

orT

H

hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net12 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Twitter that he set up a two-day job swap with Tracy Allen, his counterpart at Derbyshire Community Health Services Trust; an experience both tweeted about using #ceojobswap and which his trust summarised in an interesting Storify piece. He believes his staff should also have full access to social media tools, with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others all available to all staff on trust computers. Asked why they were nominating their chief executive as a social media pioneer, some colleagues offered a very straightforward response: “For making social media accessible to all staff and encouraging openness and transparency.”What the judges said “Generally speaking, people at the higher levels of the NHS are not great at engaging through social media. But here is a trust chief executive who uses social media to engage with his staff at all levels. He is actively seeking to change his trust and change the culture of the NHS, and his use of social media is an important part of that work.”

James TitcombePatient safety adviser, Care Quality Commission@JamesTitcombewww.morecambebayinquiry.co.ukJames Titcombe could be forgiven for having a bitter and angry online presence. In 2008, his son Joshua died after hospital staff failed to spot signs of the nine-day-old’s deteriorating condition. An inquest – for which his father had to fight for three years – ruled that 10 separate failings in Joshua’s

care at Morecambe Bay Hospital contributed to his death. Yet James’s Twitter posts and blogs are calm and balanced. It is surely no coincidence that his has become one of the most respected voices for patients and relatives who feel they have been failed by the NHS. He is admired by patients and healthcare professionals equally, and frequently sought out by journalists for comment on how the NHS needs to change and improve. He brings the measured approach of his previous career as a nuclear engineer to his new work – as well as a deep understanding of what a safe culture looks like. While his fight for an inquiry echoes the earlier campaign of Cure the NHS, our judges argued his use of social media has gone beyond even that of the Stafford-based group. His dignified yet warm tweets and blogs are focusing attention and minds, and hopefully will ultimately drive real and lasting change.What the judges said “I would argue that his role at the Care Quality Comission is in no small part due to his presence on social media. He has managed to get an inquiry into Morecambe Bay, and half of that is down to his social media campaigning as well. When he blogs on the Morecambe Bay Inquiry Action website or says something particularly notable on Twitter, journalists follow and scrabble around to cover the story. He really has led the national media and made them write about Morecambe Bay. He brings a breed of dignity to a patient safety campaign. He is an intelligent guy who is compassionate despite what he and his family have experienced.” ●

photography by Alamy, Mike Clark, Wilde Fry. Social media statistics accurate as of late March/ early April 2014.

262,823tweets

Most blog posts

partha kar

Kate Granger has

almost four times as many followers

as number of tweets

James Titcombe ‘brings a breed of dignity to a patient safety campaign’

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hsj.co.uk and nursingtimes.net12 Health Service Journal and Nursing Times supplement 30 May 2014

Twitter that he set up a two-day job swap with Tracy Allen, his counterpart at Derbyshire Community Health Services Trust; an experience both tweeted about using #ceojobswap and which his trust summarised in an interesting Storify piece. He believes his staff should also have full access to social media tools, with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others all available to all staff on trust computers. Asked why they were nominating their chief executive as a social media pioneer, some colleagues offered a very straightforward response: “For making social media accessible to all staff and encouraging openness and transparency.”What the judges said “Generally speaking, people at the higher levels of the NHS are not great at engaging through social media. But here is a trust chief executive who uses social media to engage with his staff at all levels. He is actively seeking to change his trust and change the culture of the NHS, and his use of social media is an important part of that work.”

James TitcombePatient safety adviser, Care Quality Commission@JamesTitcombewww.morecambebayinquiry.co.ukJames Titcombe could be forgiven for having a bitter and angry online presence. In 2008, his son Joshua died after hospital staff failed to spot signs of the nine-day-old’s deteriorating condition. An inquest – for which his father had to fight for three years – ruled that 10 separate failings in Joshua’s

care at Morecambe Bay Hospital contributed to his death. Yet James’s Twitter posts and blogs are calm and balanced. It is surely no coincidence that his has become one of the most respected voices for patients and relatives who feel they have been failed by the NHS. He is admired by patients and healthcare professionals equally, and frequently sought out by journalists for comment on how the NHS needs to change and improve. He brings the measured approach of his previous career as a nuclear engineer to his new work – as well as a deep understanding of what a safe culture looks like. While his fight for an inquiry echoes the earlier campaign of Cure the NHS, our judges argued his use of social media has gone beyond even that of the Stafford-based group. His dignified yet warm tweets and blogs are focusing attention and minds, and hopefully will ultimately drive real and lasting change.What the judges said “I would argue that his role at the Care Quality Comission is in no small part due to his presence on social media. He has managed to get an inquiry into Morecambe Bay, and half of that is down to his social media campaigning as well. When he blogs on the Morecambe Bay Inquiry Action website or says something particularly notable on Twitter, journalists follow and scrabble around to cover the story. He really has led the national media and made them write about Morecambe Bay. He brings a breed of dignity to a patient safety campaign. He is an intelligent guy who is compassionate despite what he and his family have experienced.” ●

photography by Alamy, Mike Clark, Wilde Fry. Social media statistics accurate as of late March/ early April 2014.

262,823tweets

Most blog posts

partha kar

Kate Granger has

almost four times as many followers

as number of tweets

James Titcombe ‘brings a breed of dignity to a patient safety campaign’

To empower all the key members of your organisation with the unique insight into NHS policy and performance that HSJ provides, enquire about a corporate subscription today.

Visit www.HSJ.co.uk/corporate or call 0203 033 4234 for more information

i

Preferential rates for multiple subscriptionsi

Ability to easily share HSJ information across your organisationi

Unlimited website users via IP accessi

Bespoke content newsfeedsi

A dedicated corporate account manager

YOUR TAILOR-MADE PACKAGE CAN INCLUDE:

HSJ209_Corp_Ads_FP.indd 1 16/07/2013 11:59