SoWhoCaresAnyway E25 So Left Shift Should Be Easy, Right?

What happens when two consultant geriatricians decide to challenge the norm, not just in clinical practice, but in how care is imagined, led, and lived?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Folwell and Dr Dan Harman , whose work in Hull and East Riding is quietly reshaping what “left shift” really means. With clinical leadership rooted in community, they reflect on how integrated teams, co-location, and relational care can move us from pilot projects to lasting change.

Together, we explore what it takes to build trust across systems, how data and digital tools can support — not replace — human connection, and why joy, dignity, and shared purpose belong at the heart of care.

From fire services responding to falls to stories of older people reclaiming agency, this conversation opens up the real work of shifting left: doing with, not doing to.

Whether you're leading change, working in care, or simply curious about how systems can become more human, there’s something here for you.

Show resources

A place to meet the needs of people living with frailty | NHS Employers

The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre – YouTube

Ray’s story: The Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, Hull - Ray's story

NHS England — North East and Yorkshire » Centre’s integrated services transform care for frail and elderly residents

Developing a System-Wide Urgent Community Response Service for Patients Living with Frailty

A non-randomised controlled study to assess the effectiveness of a new proactive multidisciplinary care intervention for older people living with frailty

Experiences of a Novel Integrated Service for Older Adults at Risk of Frailty: A Qualitative Study

National evidence:

BGS Joining the Dots - A blueprint for preventing and managing frailty in  older people.pdf

Be proactive: Delivering proactive care - Overview | British Geriatrics Society

Be proactive: Evidence supporting proactive care for older people with frailty | British Geriatrics Society