How Hospitals Are Outdated and Overloaded and Patients Are Paying the Price with Shane Gordon

In this episode of Delivery by Design Podcast, Alastair Mitchell-Baker speaks with Shane Gordon, Executive Managing Director of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, about the development of the Norfolk Acute Hospital Group and the challenges of creating a collaborative operating model across multiple NHS trusts. Shane shares insights into balancing site autonomy with group-wide governance, improving clinical collaboration, and driving system-wide transformation in a complex healthcare environment. The conversation explores how the newly formed hospital group is approaching service integration, risk management, digital transformation, and neighbourhood healthcare. Shane also discusses the importance of virtual care, mobile healthcare services, and population health management in reducing pressure on acute hospitals while improving patient outcomes. Key Takeaways: How the Norfolk Acute Hospital Group is balancing local autonomy with group-wide collaboration. Why risk management plays a central role in the group’s operating model. The importance of clinical collaboration in stabilising fragile healthcare services. How virtual clinics, virtual wards, and mobile diagnostics can reduce pressure on hospitals. Why shifting care into community and neighbourhood settings is essential for the future of healthcare delivery. Noteworthy Quotes: “We are trying to provide all services for all patients in all places, which is really a model from the 1950s.” – Shane Gordon “The challenge as leaders is finding the optimal way to provide the best care for our patients, and that can’t mean no change.” – Shane Gordon “Advice and guidance works for nobody if it takes three weeks to get a response.” – Shane Gordon “We have to use a population health management approach and identify where patients can be cared for better outside acute hospitals.” – Shane Gordon “Virtual clinics and virtual wards are central to how we shift care back into communities.” – Shane Gordon “We’ve closed escalation spaces and flow has actually improved, which feels counterintuitive.” – Shane Gordon Key Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Shane Gordon and Norfolk Acute Hospital Group 02:38 - Understanding the group operating model 10:45 - Risk management and governance across the hospital group 14:28 - Clinical collaboration and service integration across hospitals 19:18 - Comparing group models with NHS mergers 21:33 - The role of executive managing directors within the group structure 25:15 - Early improvements in operational and financial performance 31:34 - How Shane’s GP background shapes leadership and system working 35:45 - The future of neighbourhood healthcare and left shift 39:09 - Virtual clinics and specialist advice models 43:06 - Mobile diagnostics and reducing unnecessary admissions 45:14 - Improving patient flow and reducing escalation spaces 47:11 - Final thoughts on healthcare transformation and innovation Follow Our Guest, Shane Gordon: Shane Gordon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-gordon-9... Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nnuh/ Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Website: https://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/ Connect with the Host, Alastair Mitchell-Baker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastair-mitch... Follow our Colleagues from Tricordant: Andrew Liles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-liles-2... Yasmin Wills: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmin-wills-b... Nick Richmond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgmrichmond/ Helen Blanchard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenblanchard21/ More from Tricordant: Website: https://www.tricordant.com/ YouTube:    / @tricordantlimited   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tricordan... Email: [email protected] Follow the Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deli... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FZ3DP0DcivW...