The 17 most influential health leaders on Twitter

5 December, 2012 | By Alastair McLellan

This evening we publish the HSJ100 – our annual list of those who wield the greatest influence within the English NHS and over health policy. The ranking demonstrates an important change in leadership behaviour.

17 of our top 100 leaders are very active on the social media network Twitter.

Like many social networks, Twitter is often an ocean of triviality. But used appropriately and proportionately it is proving a powerful engagement tool for many healthcare leaders. The 17 leaders within the HSJ 100 and a growing number of others are using it to test ideas, debate solutions and challenge myths. We encourage HSJ readers to join the conversation.

The 17 leaders, in the order in which they appear in the HSJ100, are:

Tim Kelsey, national director for patients and information, NHS Commissioning Board: @tkelsey1
Andy Burnham, shadow secretary of state for health, Labour Party: @andyburnhammp
Dean Royles, director, NHS Employers: @NHSE_Dean
Dr Clare Gerada, chair, RCGP: @clarercgp
Ciarán Devane, chief executive, Macmillan Cancer Support: @ciarandevane
Professor Steve Field, deputy national medical director, responsible for inequalities, NHS Commissioning Board: @ProfSteveField
Professor Chris Ham, chief executive, The King’s Fund: @profchrisham
Stephen Thornton, deputy chair, Monitor and chief executive, The Health Foundation: @THFstephen
Dr Johnny Marshall, interim partnership development director, NHS Clinical Commissioners: @marshall_johnny
Liz Kendall, shadow minister for care and older people, Labour Party: @leicesterliz
Professor John Appleby, chief economist, The King’s Fund: @jappleby123
Dr Martin McShane, director for ‘Domain Two’ (long term conditions), NHS Commissioning Board: @docmdmartin
Stephen Dunn, director of development and delivery, NHS Trust Development Authority: @Stephen_P_Dunn
Jeremy Taylor, chief executive, National Voices: @JeremyTaylorNV
Anna Dixon, director of policy, The King’s Fund: @DrAnnaDixon
Dr Mark Newbold, chief executive, Heart of England Foundation Trust: @drmarknewbold
Nigel Edwards, senior fellow, The King’s Fund: @nedwards_1

Readers' comments (18)

Anonymous | 5-Dec-2012 11:45 am
So glad they have the spare time to commit to this!
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Anonymous | 5-Dec-2012 11:54 am
Noting better to do!
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Anonymous | 5-Dec-2012 11:54 am
The top 17 with the most free time. Lucky them. Not many DoFs on the list I note................
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kate clarke | 5-Dec-2012 12:36 pm
As a whistlerblower who has lost her job and is about o loose her home for speaking out who of the 17 would be i best to ask for a job.preferably someone who dosent believe in in-house invesigation .
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Andrew Craig | 5-Dec-2012 12:38 pm
I will take Roy Lilley over many of these any day for insight into what's really going on. And witty too.
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Jules Acton | 5-Dec-2012 1:37 pm
Congratulations all.Great to see patient champions Jeremy Taylor & Ciarán Devane in there.
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Anonymous | 5-Dec-2012 3:48 pm
Yes, I'm sure the majority of our elderly patients currently occupying an NHS bed with low staffing levels and poor social care provision are absolutely delighted that these "patient champions" they've probably never heard of are doing something they don't care about. It makes no impact whatsoever on anything that's important apart from give these individuals an illusion of transparency. I'd be more impressed if a hospital responded to a photo of an under cooked meal or dirty toilet and the DNS actually came and did something about it. We live in a world where relatives have to hide cameras to capture suspected poor care and people had to drink out of vases. For God's sake, who cares about NHS managers tweeting. Unbelievable.
And Kate, you won't believe me now, but there is life after (and it's not all bad, but it's a long journey) - I hope things work out for you.
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Anonymous | 5-Dec-2012 10:44 pm
Yes surprised not to see Roy l on the list. Why Editor?
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Alastair Mclellan | 6-Dec-2012 9:51 am
Because the judges did not select him I'm afraid
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Anonymous | 6-Dec-2012 11:57 am
Their mistake. I agree with Andrew Craig & read Roy every day. Don't have time to be following the rest!
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Beth Britton | 6-Dec-2012 1:04 pm
Many professionals 'tweet' in a personal capacity in their spare time, so why not 'tweet' professionally and provide insight into their world? I would imagine these healthcare professionals see twitter as an extension of their working life, not a vehicle to distract them from important decision making.

As an active twitter user I value the opportunity to contact these people, challenge anything they say that I feel is inaccurate, and remind them about my work around care of the elderly and those with dementia.

If anything we need more healthcare leaders engaging with the people they serve. Social media is one way to do this effectively.
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ALYSON BRENCHLEY | 6-Dec-2012 1:29 pm
Well said Beth.

The opportunity to directly challenge is not available to us all involved in patient care , as heirarchy is still a massive part of the NHS. However, I have had useful and valued contact with some of those named, in a way that would not have been possible before. Actually, pictures of poor food have been posted on twitter, and complaints made very public which can only be a good thing.
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Martin Rathfelder | 6-Dec-2012 1:49 pm
Why are the other 83 not Twittering?
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Mark Newbold | 6-Dec-2012 6:24 pm
Beth and Alyson are absolutely right.

Some posters here are misunderstanding how Twitter can be used - surely they would feel communication and openness are important in health and health leaders?
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ElaineH | 6-Dec-2012 7:28 pm
I wonder how the judges made up their minds about who to include or exclude? Roy L has two mentions already and mine is the third. Perhaps he appeals to ordinary folk rather than the G & G.
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Anonymous | 7-Dec-2012 8:26 am
If I was a relative I would take a picture from my smuggled camera then tweet it to the top 17 and the rest of the health moguls on twitter- and see what happened then?
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James Wilson | 8-Dec-2012 12:22 pm
Have got to agree with the comments, re: Roy Lilley. He should be in the top 100. For example, no offence to Dr Seiger at 88, but are you seriously saying he has more clout (Klout?!) than Roy...?
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Anonymous | 12-Dec-2012 3:47 pm
It all depends on where you think they are influential. Amongst their the toady donkey kissers maybe, but for the rest of us Roy Liley puts more into one blog than a year of the rest put together ... twittering around on the fringes of acceptability.
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