#346 Challenges and Opportunities in Primary Care with Ruth Rankine

The Business of Healthcare Podcast with Tara Humphrey

In this episode, Ruth Rankine joins Tara to explore the future of primary care leadership and how community-driven, flexible approaches can shape sustainable healthcare. We discuss the NHS Confederation’s efforts to influence policy, the evolving role of ICBs, and the potential for acute trusts to take on more general practice services. Ruth highlights the importance of strong leadership, integrated teams, and partnerships beyond the NHS to address growing community needs.

Key Takeaways:

• The future of primary care leadership is community-focused and collaborative.
• The NHS Confederation is driving integration and influencing policy.
• ICBs may reshape primary care, with acute trusts playing a bigger role.
• Financial pressures demand flexible, neighbourhood-led service models.
• Strong leadership and community partnerships are key to sustainable care.

Work with me   

I’m Tara Humphrey and I’m the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I’ve worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 120 Primary Care Networks and 3 GP Federations. 

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I’m also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

For more weekly insights and advice sign up to my newsletter.   

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