For many healthcare professionals, political influencing can feel distant from everyday practice. Yet the decisions made by policymakers directly impact workforce development, funding, service delivery, and ultimately patient care.
For Paul Wade, Advanced Practice Primary Care Lead, attending the QICN Political Influencing Day provided an opportunity to better understand how healthcare professionals can play a more active role in shaping those decisions and advocating for the services and workforce they support.
Why Political Influencing Matters
As someone leading the development of advanced practice within primary care, Paul understands the importance of policy, funding, and strategic decision-making in enabling services to grow and thrive.
"The continued growth of advanced practice roles is heavily influenced by the political climate, particularly when it comes to funding and workforce development."
While political decisions have always affected his work, Paul recognised that his own engagement with the political process had largely been passive. The Political Influencing Day offered an opportunity to explore how he could become more actively involved in conversations that shape the future of healthcare.
Learning from Leaders and Decision-Makers
On 28 April 2026, Paul attended the QICN Political Influencing Day in London, joining healthcare professionals from across the country to learn more about political engagement and leadership.
The event featured contributions from Ann Keen, QICN Fellow and former Parliamentary Under Secretary of Health, Councillor Catherine McArevey, Mayor of Dacorum, and was chaired by Deniese Thiruchelvan, QICN Director of Nursing.
The day provided valuable insight into how healthcare professionals can engage with political stakeholders and contribute to discussions that influence both local and national healthcare priorities.
Challenging Assumptions
Before attending the event, Paul believed that frontline healthcare professionals were often too far removed from political stakeholders to have a meaningful influence on policy.
The discussions throughout the day challenged that perception.
Through conversations about local and national healthcare issues, Paul gained a clearer understanding of how clinicians and healthcare leaders can engage with elected representatives and decision-makers to drive change.
"The most eye-opening part of the day was discussing how we can engage with political figures to influence change and make our voices heard."
The experience reinforced that healthcare professionals possess expertise and insight that policymakers value and need when making decisions about healthcare services.
Building Confidence to Influence Change
One of the most significant outcomes of the event was an increased sense of confidence and empowerment.
Paul left feeling more willing to engage with regional and national conversations, raise concerns, and advocate for changes that could benefit both patients and the healthcare workforce.
"I certainly feel more empowered to reach out on a regional and national level regarding making changes to policy or highlighting issues."
The day helped him see that influencing policy does not require a formal political role. Instead, it often begins with sharing expertise, highlighting challenges, and contributing professional insight to the right conversations.
The Importance of Healthcare Voices
Reflecting on the experience, Paul believes healthcare professionals should recognise the value of their expertise when engaging with decision-makers.
"After all, elected representatives are often generalists, whereas we are experts in our field."
This perspective has strengthened his confidence when approaching conversations with leaders, commissioners, and policymakers. By sharing frontline experiences and specialist knowledge, healthcare professionals can help ensure decisions are informed by the realities of delivering care.
Benefits for Organisations and Patients
Paul believes that organisations also benefit when their workforce is willing to engage with the political process.
By sharing both successes and challenges, healthcare professionals can help ensure that decision-makers understand the realities of healthcare delivery and the support needed to improve services.
"Having employees who are willing to engage with the political process means our voices are more likely to be heard by those who can enact change."
He also highlighted the impact that political awareness can have on patient care. Understanding healthcare challenges at a regional and national level provides a broader perspective on population health and the barriers different communities face.
This awareness can help shape more informed approaches to service delivery and patient care.
A Message to Healthcare Leaders
For colleagues who may not see political influencing as part of their role, Paul offers a simple but important message.
"As leaders in healthcare, it is vital to engage with policymakers to ensure there is awareness of both the successes and challenges we face."
Healthcare professionals have a unique understanding of what works, what needs to improve, and how services impact patients. Sharing those insights can help shape better policies and more effective healthcare systems.
Taking the Most from the Experience
When asked for advice for future attendees, Paul's recommendation is straightforward:
"Talk to everyone. Everyone comes from a different background and has a different story to tell. Don't be afraid to tell your story too."
By listening to others, sharing experiences, and engaging with new perspectives, healthcare professionals can discover opportunities to influence change in ways they may never have previously considered.
For Paul, the QICN Political Influencing Day demonstrated that political engagement is not separate from healthcare leadership. It is an important part of ensuring that the voices of patients, professionals, and communities are represented in the decisions that shape the future of care.
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