Dharmesh Patel, Chief Executive of Primary Eyecare Services, joins Tara to explore how optometry can transform the future of primary care.

As the NHS shifts more services into the community, Dharmesh explains how local opticians can become a frontline defense, easing hospital pressure while improving access to essential eye care.

Dharmesh shares his perspective on the financial, ethical, and structural challenges facing the sector, from underfunded NHS sight tests to the need for stronger collaboration within primary care networks.

Takeaways:

• The NHS 10 year plan and what it means for community based eye care.

• How local optometrists can help relieve pressure on hospitals.

• Funding and ethical challenges within UK optometry.

• Groundbreaking initiatives such as hypertension case-finding in optometry.

• The importance of collaboration with GPs, dentists, and pharmacists.

• How integrated primary care can improve patient outcomes and local economies.

Visit the Primary Eyecare website here.

Visit the Primary Eyecare Services LinkedIn here.

Work with me   

I'm Tara Humphrey and I'm the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I've worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 120 Primary Care Networks and 3 GP Federations. 

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I'm also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

For more weekly insights and advice sign up to my newsletter.   

Improving the Business of Healthcare – One Episode at a Time    

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share.

In this episode, Melissa Lato, Product Director at X-on Health, a leading provider of healthcare communication solutions, shares her inspiring journey from the finance sector to the forefront of healthcare innovation. From mentoring at hackathons to leading X-on Health's transformation into an intelligent care navigation system, Melissa discusses how AI technologies are reshaping patient engagement and redefining the healthcare experience.

Melissa and Tara explore the art of product development, drawing on lessons from launching groundbreaking products such as the first over-the-counter contraceptive pill. The conversation dives into change management, innovation culture, and the challenges of balancing scalability, control, and patient choice in a competitive UK health tech landscape.

Takeaways:

• Transitioning from finance to health tech: transferable skills and mindset shifts

• X-on Health's evolution from cloud telephony to intelligent care navigation

• The promise and pitfalls of AI in healthcare, including AI receptionists

• Aligning big ideas with precise business objectives

• The importance of transparent communication and structured change management

• How founders balance control with growth and scalability

• Advice for aspiring professionals: lead with passion, curiosity, and user empathy

Visit the X-on Health Website here.

Work with me   

I'm Tara Humphrey and I'm the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I've worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 120 Primary Care Networks and 3 GP Federations. 

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I'm also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

For more weekly insights and advice sign up to my newsletter.   

Improving the Business of Healthcare – One Episode at a Time    

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share.

Can AI transform healthcare? Dr Dan Mullarkey, Medical Director at Skin Analytics and GP, joins Tara to discuss how AI is revolutionising skin cancer detection.

Dan shares his journey from traditional GP training to leading digital health innovations focused on preventative care. We explore the challenges of adopting AI in dermatology, including clinical validation, regulation, and trust issues.

Takeaways:

• Dans journey from NHS GP to digital health leader.

• How Skin Analytics uses AI for early skin cancer detection.

• Clinical validation, regulation, and trust issues in AI adoption.

• Addressing NHS workforce shortages with teledermatology and AI.

• Skin Analytics' European expansion plans and future healthcare vision.

Visit Dan Mullarkey's LinkedIn here.

Access the Skin Analytics Website here.

Visit the Skin Analytics LinkedIn here.

Work with me   

I'm Tara Humphrey and I'm the founder of THC Primary Care, a leading healthcare consultancy. I provide project and network management to Primary Care Networks and consulting support to clinical leads. To date, I've worked with 11 Training Hubs and supported over 120 Primary Care Networks and 3 GP Federations. 

I understand and appreciate the complexity of healthcare and what it takes to deliver projects across multiple practices.   

I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sector and have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare. I'm also published in the London Journal of Primary Care and the author of over 250 blogs.   

For more weekly insights and advice sign up to my newsletter.   

Improving the Business of Healthcare – One Episode at a Time    

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of the Business of Healthcare Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe, leave your honest review, and share.