'Turning Points' Interview with Dr Sarah Andersen by Lisa Westbury

Dr Sarah Andersen, with Dr Laura Marshall-Andrews, set up the FutureHealth (www.futurehealthbrighton.org) project to create an innovative and inspiring primary health care centre for Brighton. The plan, originally for Blackrock, was to work alongside complementary health care practitioners, exercise studios, space for local groups, art and a café.  Sarah is currently a GP at the Brighton Health and Wellbeing Centre in Brunswick, a prototype for the project set up by Dr Laura Marshall Andrews. The concept is part of a wider vision to make the NHS more sustainable in today’s tough climate of an ageing population and limited resources. 

What was behind the big idea? 
I was chatting with a friend back in 2011 about what it would be like to work in an organisation which was like a body - with a heart and a nervous system (the management), functional arms and financial legs to serve the community. The medical part would be a couple of digits. Crucial, yes, but just part of the whole concept of health, rather than everything being designed around the Doctor. I imagined working in a beautiful, naturally healthy environment overlooking the sea, alongside and equal to lots of other practitioners in a way that isn't available at the moment.

What was your turning point in making it a reality?
I went away without the children for a week to a Greek island called Skyros, which is known for helping people to generate new ideas or try new skills. The idea fomented really fast and I had such great feedback that by the end of the week I was to get going on it as soon as I got back. On my last day there I got a call saying my Dad was very sick and I went from Greece to Intensive Care, where he died suddenly.  That had a big impact on the intensity of ideas. The flood of ideas became a tide, and the changes talked about quickly became something we thought would happen. My grief poured into that.  

What’s the response been like?
Fabulous and joyful. Unexpected people say they have thought about the same thing, and that’s the power of it – unlocking potential. Baroness Shirley Williams saw what it is about and gave her time very generously, coming to the Blackrock site in Brighton and showing her support. Tim Smit, founder of the Eden project, understood in a nanosecond and wrote us a great quote.

What would be different in your vision for the future of primary health care?
That we consider people’s humanity and uniqueness in providing something which fits with the person, instead of standardised medical care. It might be a very small but significant change, specific to that circumstance. For example, I prescribed a dog for someone who was depressed after a heart attack. That was what he needed to recover and improve his cardiovascular health. It doesn't have to cost more, it costs less.

What drives you?
Making a connection between the need and the appropriate provision. Change can be exciting, creative and responsive. I want people to remember old and powerful habits; what communities used to do in the past, what other cultures do, and to be inspired by the things that they themselves used to do that fulfilled them. 

What’s made the difference in keeping going?
Feedback from other people. It might be someone at the school gate asking about the project or my patients offering support for the idea.  

What impact has the project had on you?
An enormous amount of personal development. Knowing about medicine is such a small part of making a difference. I’m learning to speak HTML, and economics and PR!

And the impact on others?
Other people’s jobs have changed. People at the Health and Wellbeing Centre are doing what they really believe in, which impacts on our 7,000 patients.
 
How do you use what you are learning from this process?
I have a posse of Professors working with me on creative problem solving. I share what I’ve learned with patients, and they feed back to me. I use that to teach medical students at the university, who then tell me something new. So the learning is always in motion.

What are you still curious about?
Other people, the future and myself

What’s your top tip for somebody else wanting to make change happen?
Understand your own motivation, because that’s what carries you through when things are challenging.

What’s your biggest challenge now?
Co-ordinating the next step across the project’s different arms, and putting our creative ideas into practice.

How are you tackling it?
Being open to opportunities as they arise

If you could have anything at all in 2014 what would it be?
More of the same!

Turning Points is a series of interviews with Brighton Chambers members who are making change happen in their lives, their business or in the community – or all three!  Lisa Westbury (www.lisawestbury.com) is a career development and organisational coach helping people to create a positive impact through change. If you have a story to share with other members, please email lisa@lisawestbury.com.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk