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Covid-19 has thrown us into the arms of new digital technology like little else before. Video conferencing for appointments is no longer a surprise, and the fact that Covid-19 tests (where available) should be booked online seems completely natural. While no one can deny that the rate of change in digital healthcare has increased, how much of this change is likely to remain with us long term?

If the future is collaboration, where are we now, and how do we bridge the gap? If we’re genuine about the high aspirations we have for primary care networks, integrated care systems, etc, do we know how big a challenge that is?

This week I returned to clinical work. Its been more than 100 days since I last saw a patient in real life. More than three months since I touched a patient, delivered their baby or looked to see if they had cancer.

The NHS and I have grown up together, changed together, matured together. I love the NHS, but let’s face it – just because you love something, or someone, doesn’t mean you can’t feel immensely irritated with it at times.

Living with Covid-19, or the risk of its return, is the new normal for health and social care. How can we continue to operate with so much uncertainty?

Public involvement in health is often a box ticking exercise but maybe the ‘new normal’ can change that for the better. If organisations are prepared to be open, they are more likely to be trusted.

If Coronavirus has taught us anything, it is quite how dramatically the world can change. All those absolute certainties that we understood as-long-ago as February now seem as flimsy as chiffon. Indeed, back in February we wouldn’t have dreamed of wondering if chiffon could somehow transmit the virus, and how best to disinfect it.

Rose shares her reflections from our Melting Pot Lunch with Nancy Kuchemann, where we discussed working as a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) as part of NHS England and Improvement's Integrated Care in Action week.

Nancy Kuchemann explores multi-disciplinary team (MDT) working, what it means in practice and how we are getting closer to a framework by which we can better determine, refine and coordinate the input that our patients need. 

Cindy Boyd reflects on her experiences at Super Melting Pot hearing from Pinky Lilani, visiting Isis Prison and trying to define what it is to be kind.