Hallam Medical is proud to announce the launch of its very first podcast episode: Leading with Compassion.

In this insightful debut, Chief Nurse Lisa Locker sits down with Brand & Strategic Partnerships Lead Charlotte Currie to share her professional journey, leadership insights, and thoughts on the future of healthcare.

With over 30 years of experience in the NHS, Lisa has worked as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and Deputy Nurse Director within a major NHS Trust. She was one of the first ANPs to qualify with a Master’s in Advancing Health & Social Care Practice, breaking ground for others to follow in her footsteps.

Now, as Chief Nurse at Hallam Medical, Lisa leads on Clinical Governance and Safeguarding, while supporting a national network of highly skilled Advanced Practitioners, Community Specialists, and 111 Pathways Clinicians.

“I’m a clinical voice for the business,” Lisa says. “It’s important for both clients and clinicians to have a clinical face they can connect with.”

In the episode, Lisa reflects on the pressures the NHS continues to face, from financial issues and workforce shortages to the lasting impact of COVID-19. She speaks candidly about how these challenges have stretched patient care across both acute and community settings.

“There are still so many pressures, financial strain, increased patient demand, and staff shortages,” Lisa explains. “COVID only heightened these issues.”

A key theme of the discussion is the evolving role of Advanced Nurse Practitioners. Lisa emphasises that while ANPs often work autonomously, their leadership contributions must not be overlooked.

“Leadership is one of the four pillars of advanced practice, but it’s often misunderstood,” she says. “Just because you work autonomously doesn’t mean you’re not leading. In fact, many ANPs are leading teams, shaping services, and driving innovation in care delivery.”

Lisa also touches on her evolving view of staffing partners, noting how her time at Hallam Medical has reshaped her thinking.

“Working here has shown me how valuable good staffing partners can be,” she shares. “We’re not just filling roles; we’re helping clinicians grow and guiding them to the right opportunities.”

You can read Lisa’s Blog here: Staffing Partner – Friend or Foe.

Her favourite part of the role? Building meaningful partnerships and learning from a wide range of clinical expertise. Lisa believes these relationships are key to delivering exceptional care.

To close the episode, Lisa was asked to describe her time at Hallam Medical in just three words. Her answer? Crazy. Friendly. Dedicated.

Listen to the full episode here.