Caroline Clarke – Good health is a fundamental human right

“I think the health industry is the most interesting industry to be in – kind of ever – but particularly now because it’s hard and presents really complex problems that need lots and lots of thought,” Caroline Clarke says, speaking at the second meeting of the first Sciana cohort.

As the chief finance officer and deputy chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Clarke says she feels proud of the work the organisation does. “It feels like a worthwhile place to be,” she says.

Clarke, who joined the trust in 2011, is currently in the middle of setting up a chain of hospitals. The aim is that by scaling up the services, the hospitals are able to work in a more cost effective and efficient manner. The group consists of three hospitals, with more due to join next year.

Attending Sciana has given Clarke the opportunity to sit back and reflect on the work her organization does. She says, “I don’t get enough chances to put my eyes to the horizon.” Learning from her peers is something Clarke considers valuable. She’s hoping this meeting will also represent a chance to share her insights on making organisational changes within existing health care structures. She says, “The interesting thing we’re all grappling with is how do you make change? How do you get it to stick?”

Clarke was recognised as a trailblazer in public finance by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting in 2015. In addition to her work at the Royal Free London, she is also a member of the advisory board to the Learning Clinic. But why is she so passionate about health care?

“I’m passionate about being a human being, and health care is a part of that,” Clarke says. Ensuring that the UK continues to have a good health service is important to her. She says, “Good health is something that everybody deserves. It’s a fundamental human right.”

The National Health Service is often considered a point-of-pride for residents across the UK but its need for more funding remains in the headlines. “Whatever happens, there won’t be enough money, right?” Clarke says.

Regardless of the situation, Clarke says you have to work with what you have. For Clarke, this means helping to support the 10,000 members of staff employed by Royal Free London. Clarke says, “My job as a leader is to galvanise people and give them a bit of hope that everything will be okay.”