🎙 Episode 67: Dulcie Matthews and Dorothy Hall – Hope, Resilience, and the Spirit of Coventry

This very special VE Day episode of Wild Card – Whose Shoes? is a real treat. 🕊️

Join me, Gill Phillips, as I welcome two extraordinary women: Dorothy Hall, familiar to listeners from Episode 64, and her equally inspirational friend Dulcie Matthews, aged 88.

Dulcie grew up in wartime Coventry, and shares her moving memories of a city scarred by bombs but brimming with resilience. Her evocative memoir From Paradise to Eden brings the 1940s vividly to life — and today, she brings that world to us through her words, wit, and warmth. 🌸

In a beautifully candid conversation, Dulcie and Dorothy reflect on ageing, creativity, and retaining a sense of identity and purpose when society would often rather render older people invisible.

✨ From Dulcie’s lockdown poems and fairy tales for her great-granddaughter to their joyful adventures searching for "fairy doors," this episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and humour.

We talk about social prescribing, the healing power of music and nature, grief and resilience — and dreaming up a bold new vision for compassionate care in later life.

🍋💡🍋 Lemon lightbulbs

🍋 You are still you
Despite how society treats older people, identity, creativity, and inner fire do not fade with age

🍋 Stay curious and always say yes
Dulcie has stayed open to life’s opportunities, even through deep grief and loss

🍋 Creativity is an escape — and a lifeline
Nature, writing, fairy stories, and music offer not just escape, but deep healing.

🍋 Invisible no more
Calling out the way healthcare systems often marginalize older people — and fighting to be seen and heard.

🍋 Rediscover your roots
Dulcie rekindling her love for Coventry reminds us that reconnecting with our past can offer hope for the future

🍋 The world changes — and we adapt
From wartime Coventry to lockdown Britain, Dulcie’s reflections show resilience as a constant thread through life

🍋 Music unlocks memory, joy, and connection
The powerful role of music in both healthcare and daily life — lifting spirits and bridging generations

🍋 Imagination is ageless
Whether it's fairy tales or reimagining community care, creativity thrives at every age, so support people to use their skills and feel they can contribute

🍋 Challenge stereotypes by living fully
Wearing jeans, playing piano, creating stories — refusing to be boxed in by other people’s ideas of ‘old age.’

🍋 Reimagine care: people first, not conditions
A visionary idea: flexible, creative care communities inspired by the hospice model but open to all

_______________________________________________________

Dorothy's key message? "Be more imaginative about how care is offered "

Dulcie’s key message? "Stay curious. Always say yes!"

____________________________________________________

This is a celebration of courage, creativity, and connection — the spirit that saw Coventry rise again after WWII, and the same spirit that Dulcie and Dorothy embody today ❤️

🌟 A heartfelt thank you to Dulcie and Dorothy for sharing their stories so openly. A perfect listen to inspire you this VE Day.

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Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

In this electric, soul-stirring conversation, Dr Guddi Singh joins me to explore what it truly means to radically reimagine health. From the frontline realities of paediatrics to the bold edges of creative health and social justice, Guddi brings her full, vibrant self — and invites us all to do the same.

We talk about what’s broken in our health system, why simply fixing sickness isn’t enough, and how real health is built in homes and communities, not hospitals.

We shine a light on creative co-production, interdisciplinary approaches, and the untapped power of arts, storytelling and relationships to transform healthcare.

Guddi describes herself as a closet creative and lifelong learner, and you’ll hear exactly why — from training citizen scientists to founding WHAM (Wellbeing and Health Action Movement) and leading the Powering Up project.

This episode is bursting with energy, honesty, hope¦ and a few well-placed mic drops.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 Health is not built in hospitals – it’s built in our homes and communities

🍋 A child cannot be healthy if the context they live in is sick - we have to treat the context – hunger, poverty, poor housing – not just the symptoms

🍋 “I’m a closet creative trapped in the body of a doctor” : Guddi’s mission blends creativity, academia, activism, and medicine to drive meaningful change

🍋 The system doesn’t work for patients — and it doesn’t really work for staff

🍋 There’s no KPI for what actually matters — to patients or professionals

🍋 Maybe the most powerful KPI is: Will you remember this? Did it change you?

🍋 Human connection doesn’t fit in a spreadsheet – but it’s what makes the work meaningful.

🍋 Fixing health inequalities starts with ordinary clinicians and patients, and creative approaches

🍋 Powering Up isn’t a project – it’s a movement

🍋 It’s hard to lie to kids - Powering up unearthed the real issues

🍋 The system may be blind, but our stories can open its eyes

🍋 Dance saved my life. Why isn’t creative health part of the NHS mainstream?

🍋 We’re lighting up little patches of the world. What if we joined the dots?

🍋 We’re not alone — it’s time to bring our lemon lightbulbs together

Links:

Wellbeing and Health Action Movement (WHAM)

Powering Up Project

National Centre for Creative Health

Episode 54: Dr Mary Salama - connecting across boundaries

Episode 57 : Dr Tom Holliday - children get less

Join the Movement

This is more than a conversation It’s a call to action. Whether you’re a clinician, creative, policymaker or passionate citizen, this episode will leave you asking:

What’s my role in radically reimagining health?

#coproduction

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

This special episode of Wild Card – Whose Shoes? is part of The World Podcastathon, a global celebration of podcasts that spark conversation, challenge perspectives, and inspire change.

I’m thrilled to welcome the incredible Nicola Enoch, founder and CEO of Down Syndrome UK, a powerhouse advocate who is transforming perceptions, challenging outdated maternity care practices, and empowering families. Nicola’s journey is extraordinary—one that began with fear and stigma when she learned her son, Tom, might have Down syndrome, and evolved into a mission to support parents, shift mindsets, and tackle inequalities head-on.

We explore the power of language in maternity care, the importance of early development, and how health inequalities continue to impact people with learning disabilities. Nicola also shares how her organization is training healthcare professionals and educators to see the person first and break down barriers that still exist today.

This conversation is raw, real, and packed with lemon lightbulb moments—insights that challenge us all to think differently.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 Words shape experiences – Describing Down syndrome as a “risk” or “abnormality” impacts how parents feel about their child. Language matters.

🍋 Breaking bad news? Or sharing unexpected news? – How healthcare professionals frame a diagnosis makes all the difference.

🍋 Assume competence – Expecting less from a child with Down syndrome limits their potential. High expectations open doors.

🍋 Health inequalities are real – Diagnostic overshadowing leads to preventable health issues. Parents must advocate fiercely.

🍋 Community is everything – Peer support groups are lifelines. No parent should feel alone.

This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about maternity care, inclusion, and human stories that challenge stereotypes.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation!

Links:

We hope you will donate to this important charity - here is how you can find out more!

#WildCardWhoseShoes #WorldPodcastathon #DownSyndromeAwareness #ChangingTheNarrative #CoProduction

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

In this powerful episode, Gill Phillips chats with her long-time friend Dorothy Hall, a former social worker and fierce advocate for fairness. They explore the realities of ageism in healthcare.

At 82 and a half, Dorothy brings a wealth of lived experience—as a professional, a family carer, and now as someone navigating the NHS as an older person.

She highlights the stark contrast between systems that dismiss patients based on age and those that embrace co-production and shared decision-making.

Dorothy shares two shocking yet inspiring stories:

• How she was abruptly denied essential treatment for a genetic condition upon turning 80—without warning, discussion, or a clear clinical rationale
• Her journey to access an innovative light therapy treatment for macular degeneration, which remains largely unknown and unavailable on the NHS despite its life-changing potential

Instead of accepting the system’s failings, Dorothy took matters into her own hands—seeking a second opinion, finding more compassionate healthcare providers, and ultimately reclaiming control over her own care.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 Co-production doesn’t stop at 80 - see the person

🍋 Healthcare should be about needs, not numbers – age alone should never determine whether someone gets treatment

🍋 Patients shouldn’t have to be experts in NICE guidelines or fight for info

🍋 Don’t push people into complaints—listen first – most patients don’t want a fight, they just want fair treatment

🍋 The complaints process takes a huge toll on people

🍋 Empathy transforms healthcare

🍋 Joint decision-making rocks!

🍋 Short-term cuts create long-term costs – and unnecessary suffering

🍋 Rigid NHS systems fail real people – bureaucratic barriers, arbitrary cut-offs, and poor communication leave people helpless

🍋 Being 'outside the system' can be a nightmare

🍋 Seek a second opinion

🍋 Vision loss is life-changing - NHS should embrace this proven, non-invasive macular degeneration preventative treatment

🍋 It’s not just about vision - age-related sight loss affects independence, mobility and mental health

🍋 Patient advocacy is powerful – knowing your rights, pushing back, and seeking alternatives can change everything

🍋 Honest communication matters!!!

Links:

Encouraging results from light therapy study for dry age-related macular degeneration - study published by the Macular Society

#WIGO - When I Get Old campaign - Gill Phillips chats with Angela Catley

✨ A must-listen episode for anyone passionate about health inequalities, patient advocacy, and how we can build a healthcare system that truly listens to people—at every stage of life. 🎧

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Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

🎙️ Wild Card - Whose Shoes? Podcast 🎙️
🎉 Episode 63: Celebrating 10 Years of #MatExp! 🎉

Join us for a festive and heartfelt episode as we celebrate a decade of the groundbreaking #MatExp campaign, born from the Whose Shoes? co-production movement!

This special Christmas edition revisits the vibrant energy of our 10-year anniversary event held on October 17th, 2024, blending highlights from the session with moving testimonials, joyful moments, and powerful reflections.

🍋💡🍋 Why listen?

• The Evidence Base: Hear live testimonials and stories that showcase the real impact #MatExp has had on maternity care, as shared by parents, healthcare professionals, and changemakers during the celebration.
• Moments to Remember: From lithotomy challenges and Mexican waves to the iconic #MatExp the Musical, we relive the creativity, courage, and co-production that have defined this journey.
• Hope for the Future: Reflect on the challenges facing maternity services today and the enduring hope for change, inspired by our community's dedication and innovation.
• Interactive Fun: Experience the joy of reconnection through breakout room anecdotes, graphic visuals, musical interludes - and even a live rap!

🍼 Special shoutouts to the incredible #MatExp community who’ve co-created resources, challenged traditional hierachies, and sparked “lemon lightbulb moments” that continue to improve maternity experiences worldwide.

🎄 Whether you’re a Whose Shoes “addict” or discovering us for the first time, this episode is an inspiring celebration of what’s been achieved—and what’s still to come. Together, let’s keep the #MatExp banner flying high!

✨ Listen now and feel the festive spirit of co-production in action! ✨

Links to some resources mentioned in the podcast:
🍋 Celebrating 10 Years of #MatExp - highly visual. Watch on Youtube!
🍋 Whose Shoes comes to Brighton - song and dance and CAKE!
🍋 The Robin Hood midwives in Sherwood Forest
🍋 #FabObs Flo's TED talk
🍋 Nottingham Whose Shoes event
🍋 The new neonatal unit being built at Alder Hey
🍋 Jo Minford and Mary Salama #IntentionalCoffee
🍋 Young parents - Birmingham Families - Whose Shoes event
🍋 #MatExp the Musical
🍋 Fab NHS Stuff - #MatExp collection
🍋 Whose News? - our #MPFTWhoseShoes project - children and families

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Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

Bonus episode!
Dr. George Winder and I pick up from our impactful “Don’t Medicalise Poverty” conversation (Episode 58, Universal Healthcare mini-series).

George’s work is refreshing. It goes beyond prescriptions and appointments.
It makes healthcare about relationships, community and plain common sense.
More human and a lot more doable!

We dive into stories that show the true power of social connection – from walking groups that tackle loneliness to blood pressure checks held away from GP practice walls. George opens up about the realities of community-based health: the greatest successes come from local ownership and the simple yet profound impact of listening to people

We explore the "why" behind the data, the risks of inactivity, the courage it takes to start where you are, gradually building networks and trust

The stories show that healthcare is a team effort – a team that includes everyone.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 Walking for Wellbeing – A simple walk, a friendly coffee, and a bit of music can do wonders
The best healthcare can start with bringing people together, not with prescriptions
🍋 Loneliness as a Health Crisis – Research shows that meaningful social interactions can be as important as vaccinations
Community activities like “move to music” and chair-based yoga aren't just exercise; they’re lifelines
🍋 Scaling vs. Staying Local – Not everything is meant for mass production.
True community-based health relies on local ownership, where the community shapes what they need most
🍋 The Power of Passion – Real change happens when people lead with passion. A retired teacher running a children’s reading group from a car park during Covid19 is a reminder that enthusiasm can surmount setbacks!
🍋 Inactivity Is a Risk – George nails it with “inactivity can be as dangerous as activity.” When fear of risk paralyzes action, community needs get sidelined.
Vital support can be lost.
🍋 Meeting People Where They Are – Health isn’t always in the clinic.
By bringing blood pressure checks to community spaces, George’s team is reaching those who might never go to a GP
🍋 The Pitfall of Opt-in Systems – bureaucracy often leaves behind people in vulnerable situations. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it can mean missing critical care
🍋 The elephant in the room - honesty re NHS Resources and prioritisation can help people understand the real cost and impact of services
🍋 Trust in the Team – Multidisciplinary work means no organisational walls. George’s weekly team check-ins are open and flexible, with colleagues calling in from the real world – creating a 'team hug' that’s both supportive and effective
🍋 Healthcare needs kindness and connection at its core
George’s 'team hug' and Gill’s kindness conversations remind us that sometimes simply listening and showing empathy can transform BOTH patient and practitioner experiences

Links
George Winder – Don’t medicalise poverty
Altogether Better
Bob Klaber - kindness matters
Alvanley Famil

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

In this final episode of our mini-series on universal healthcare, in collaboration with LSBU and the Universal Healthcare Network, we bring it full circle with Prof. Becky Malby, who commissioned this enlightening journey.

Over recent episodes, we've delved into stories from remarkable guests who are making universal healthcare real in their communities – from children’s services to outreach for those experiencing homelessness. Together, they’ve shown us the power of curiosity, collaboration, and plain humanity in health care.

Becky reflects on their stories and challenges us with a bold question:
If they can do it, why can’t everyone?

Why aren’t these inspiring, people-centered approaches the norm?

It’s a call to reimagine healthcare beyond the appointment system and break down walls that hinder access for the most vulnerable.

We discuss everything from the need for team support in complex care, to the irreplaceable role of storytelling, which has shone brightly throughout the series.

This episode is an inspiring wrap-up and a rallying cry to make healthcare universal in every sense.

Whether you’re in healthcare, policy, or simply curious about a fairer system, this series has laid out the path forward – and it’s one we’ll need to walk together. Thank you for joining us in this exploration.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 The Outliers' Challenge – If these guys can create truly universal healthcare, why isn’t everyone doing it?
Stop treating these stories as “exceptions”, start making them the norm.

🍋 Beyond the Appointment Factory – The NHS is more than an endless round of appointments.
Bring care to people; don't just wait for them to show up.

🍋 Break Down the Barriers – A phone call to get an appointment can be Everest for those without easy access or trust in the system.
Meet people where they are: in a clinic, on the street, or anywhere that works

🍋 Curiosity Is the Key – The best hcps aren’t the “know-it-alls”
Join the magic, curious people who keep asking, “Who else could help?” and “What’s the full picture here?”

🍋 Teamwork - it’s lighter with friends.
From school nurses to team huddles, complex care works better (and is way more fun) when you have support

🍋 Stories Over Stats – what are the stories behind the data?
George helped V get to China - shows the human impact in a way data never could

🍋 Start somewhere
Don’t overthink. Just start. Get moving. Small actions can spark big changes

🍋 Reignite the creative Pandemic Spirit – Remember the “VacciTaxies” bringing care to where people needed it?
Let's ditch the bureaucracy & reignite our drive to make healthcare accessible.

🍋 Universal healthcare is possible - it’s up to all of us to carry this momentum forward

Links:
EPISODES 56-61 in this series!
Universal HealthCare National Inquiry
Gill's Universal Healthcare work with MPFT

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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

We are nearing the end of our mini series of podcasts about universal healthcare, in collaboration with London South Bank University and the Universal Healthcare Network.

With the NHS experiencing overwhelming demand, we need radical transformation with more power and resources within communities.

So today, Bill Graham, who is a Community Coordinator with Modality Partnership, focuses on community-based solutions!

Bill talks about the need for primary care to engage with communities and gives examples of how this works in practice, e.g maximising COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Asian populations and increasing childhood vaccination rates.

Bill highlights the success of community-led initiatives, such as health checks at sports events and baby days in shopping centres.

Bill also mentions the multi-generational home visiting project and digital outreach initiatives to enhance patient engagement. He calls for more investment in community solutions and stresses the importance of practical, asset-based approaches in healthcare.

Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

🍋 Magic happens when primary care breaks out of the day-to-day cycle and starts to do things differently … High Street health!

🍋 Engage with local communities - they have a vital role to play in helping people look after their health

🍋 Get out and about, build relationships with your community and find out what is important to them

🍋 This episode has lots of practical examples of how to make healthcare more accessible by taking it out to where people are

🍋 Be culturally curious and find out what works for different populations

🍋 Shift power and be imaginative with resources

🍋 Be proactive – if people are not coming forward for health checks, try multi-generational home visiting?

🍋 Support family carers too - often the unsung heroes of health care

🍋 Turn theory and data into ACTION to address health inequalities

🍋 Volunteers can help people access health-related technology and start to close the digital divide

🍋 Don’t overthink things – start somewhere!

Some links :
Universal HealthCare National Inquiry
Easy Read Executive Summary
10 Leaps Forward - Innovation in the pandemic
Noreen Bukhari - supporting women from ‘BAME’ communities
Gill's Universal Healthcare work with MPFT

#coproduction #communities #funding #equity #healthinequalities #storytelling #passion #QI

We LOVE it when you leave a review!
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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.

Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.