Doctorpreneurs leading the way in healthcare social enterprise

The growing number of social enterprises in the UK economy marks the advent of Generation G:

"Generation G captures the growing importance of ‘generosity’ as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy, the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fuelled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers."
Source: Trendwatching, 2009

New RSA Fellows and doctorpreneurs Emma Stanton and Claire Lemer have been actively involved in encouraging fellow doctors to be more engaged in healthcare management and policy for several years and are passionate about improving the quality of healthcare in the UK. However, they have found that many junior doctors lacked the opportunity to translate their passion for improving patient care into the healthcare system. When these agents for change tried to improve things, too often there was little recognition, encouragement or support from the system.

This lack of using junior doctors effectively to drive improvements in the quality of healthcare has led Claire and Emma to follow Generation G’s trend and set up a healthcare social enterprise called Diagnosis. Although Claire and Emma are MBA-graduates, both would agree that setting up their own organisation has been a far harder challenge.

As a social enterprise, Diagnosis is a business with primarily social objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. Any profits that Diagnosis makes will be reinvested back into developing the skills of its Associates to become future healthcare leaders and also to provide annual bursaries for medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Diagnosis positions itself as a healthcare consultancy for organisations such as the NHS, Department of Health and arms length bodies such as the Health Foundation. One recent project involves producing an innovative 'Induction to the NHS' DVD for 7,000 newly qualified junior doctors. Rather than employ staff, Diagnosis invites high potential junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals into a virtual talent pool as Associates. Individuals are contracted at a daily rate to contribute towards a portfolio of projects that can be carried out alongside clinical and other professional commitments.

Get involved

Diagnosis is keen to learn from the skills and expertise of other RSA Fellows, particularly those who may have a background in consultancy, healthcare or project management. Email Emma and Claire if you are interested to meet them for a coffee to hear more and discuss Diagnosis.