This week on Only Human After All, we meet Tom Palmer—an NHS financial controller with a surprising story.

Tom shares how a love of maths and a leap into a finance apprenticeship led him into a decade-long NHS career. Along the way, he’s learned that good financial leadership isn’t about saying no—it’s about working alongside clinical teams to enable better care.

He opens up about being an introvert in a collaborative world, overcoming a childhood stammer, and finding pride in helping turn spreadsheets into scanners and ideas into impact. This is a warm, honest conversation about values, self-belief, and the quiet power of doing your job with integrity

In this episode, we meet Janine Foxhall, the Associate Director of Operations for Urgent and Emergency Care. Join us as we explore Janine's journey from studying languages to an unexpected career in the police force and her vital role in ensuring smooth patient flow through the hospital.

Discover the intricate balance Janine and her team maintain, coordinating with various partners to facilitate efficient patient discharge, while prioritizing their well-being and personal needs. Janine shares her insights on the human element of healthcare, emphasizing the significance of understanding individual stories and maintaining seamless communication within the hospital environment.

From her language immersion in France to her diverse experiences with international police forces, Janine's narrative offers a compelling look at the unexpected paths life can take. Tune in to hear more about the fascinating journey of someone who combines passion with purpose in the world of healthcare, illustrating that at the core, we're all only human after all.

In this episode, hosts James Thomas and Andrea Clegg sit down with Laura Fisher, Head of Operational Change for the Digital Electronic Patient Records Programme at Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

Laura’s story is one of transformation — both personal and organisational. Starting out as an Operating Department Practitioner, she now plays a key role in leading the trust through one of its biggest shifts: the move from paper to digital. But behind the systems and strategy is a story about people — about bringing staff with you, overcoming doubt, and making change feel possible.

This is an honest conversation about the challenges of digitalisation in the NHS, the resistance that often comes with it, and why empathy and communication matter just as much as technology. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to make progress in healthcare — this episode is for you.