Perspectives from an NHS Trust NED: How practising clinicians can drive change in their local community by joining an NHS Trust board

Dr Gurjit Bhogal, NHS Trust NED | GP | Consultant in Sports Medicine

Dr Gurjit Bhogal is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine appointed to the Centre of Musculoskeletal Medicine at Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham in 2015. A NED for Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. He also currently works part-time for Aston Villa Football Club. He is on the medical panel for the England and Wales Cricket Board and works as England Women’s Team Physician. He worked as Lead Physician for the England Men's Cricket Team. He was also appointed as the Chief Medical Officer for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and the highly successful 2019 Cricket World Cup.

He graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2005 and completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine from The University of Nottingham in 2010. He initially trained as a General Practitioner before completing higher specialist training in sport and exercise medicine in 2014. He has previously acted as a physician for the English Institute of Sport, British Triathlon Federation, Worcester Wolves Basketball team, Kidderminster Harriers FC, Worcestershire County Cricket Club, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Worcester Warriors Rugby Club and Bristol Bears Rugby Club.

You have an interesting portfolio career, which includes a NED role in the NHS. Why did you choose the roles that comprise your portfolio?

“I am a Medical Doctor by background, having initially trained as a GP. I have always had an interest in sports, as well as coaching; I played cricket at a reasonable level with some very good players who played professionally and internationally, and it was ‘serendipity’ when the opportunity came up to work with the England cricket team. It was also an opportunity to extend my sporting practice into a speciality, which was only relatively recently recognised in the UK (although more prevalent in other countries). I am also still a practising NHS Doctor. My portfolio means that on a practical level, my working week is busy and varied which keeps things fresh”. 

Why did you choose to become a Non-Executive Director in the NHS?

I applied for the Associate NED role in Dudley Group after I saw an advertisement. The Associate NED role felt like a good introduction to NHS governance. Over the course of my career, I had developed more experience in leadership and governance which led to my interest in providing assurance for NHS Boards. What made it more attractive was it was desirable to have a connection with Dudley and the Black Country; my grandfather was an architect in the local council for 35 years and my mother worked as an optometrist there too. 

What's been your biggest challenge as a NED?

Since joining the NHS NED role, I have been involved in various committees - I chair the EDI Steering Group in the Trust and I am Vice Chair of the Quality and Safety Committee. Some of the work we’ve been doing is around maternity services. The Ockenden Report on Maternity Services recently highlighted inequity for ethnic minority women (specifically Afro-Caribbean women) so part of our strategy has been to decide how we proactively reach specific ethnic minority groups. This was a challenging set of objectives and targets. We are still on this journey but the initial work of the maternity leadership has been fantastic and gives me great satisfaction. Giving birth is uncertain and can be high risk and getting it right for mothers, fathers and babies in a safe and compassionate healthcare structure is a real priority.

You've progressed from being an Associate Non-Executive Director to a substantive NED on the Board of an NHS Trust. How did the role of Associate NED prepare you for the role?

I think it’s a great role. If you are trying to improve the NHS in your community and drive change at a high level then Board level is where change can begin. We know organisations set the tone and culture from the top. The Associate NED role is a good introduction to NHS Boards and provides a breadth of experience. 

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in an NHS role?

In order to do this job well you need to give a good portion of your time.

The remuneration doesn't fit someone who is in the earlier stage of their career unless they have a portfolio career. If you have an executive job it’s a challenge to do a NED role, but I would encourage people to consider it as it helps with development and learning. It is important to read widely, especially about integrated care systems and what this means for the NHS. Read around NHS finances, including understanding the complexity and uncertainty around funding. I found these areas challenging even though I have had something of a headstart coming to this NED role from my medical career. There is some great reading out there - the King’s Fund produces helpful articles, as do the Nuffield Trust. NHS Providers have a fantastic induction programme for newly appointed NEDs too. 

Did anything take you by surprise once you'd got your teeth stuck into the role?

I am blown over by how passionate people are for the NHS. I knew already, as a practising clinician, but it is so fantastic to see it in a different role.

As a Board member, I have more visibility across the local healthcare system and it’s wonderful to see so many talented people working together to help the wider Black Country. There is a lot of “system-working” in the NED role - It’s important and evolving. We have to think a bit more broadly and see what goes on outside of our Trust. Within this, we need to understand how we contribute to the whole system. There are some complexities to this and challenges, which require balanced and measured solutions.

Quick-fire questions

Favourite Summer Activity

I love golf.  - I play off 12.

What car have you got?

I have an electric car - Kia Niro. It’s very handy, and I like it.  It’s like me -  simple and efficient!

Favourite Food? 

Lasagne - all about a good red sauce!

Favourite Board game

I like Cluedo!

What never fails to make you laugh?

My children! I have a daughter called Maya, who is 7, and Rohan who is 4.5.

Mark Bate, Head of Healthcare, spoke to Gurjit to talk about his journey into a NED role within the NHS