A new whizzy bit of audience participation technology appeared last week at an HSJ conference, allowing delegates to text questions to the chair, where they pop up on a screen for the panel to answer.

It was a hit with one of the speakers, NHS North West chief executive Mike Farrar, who told delegates: “I really like the idea…because it completely legitimises any of you now doing all your emails.

“While I’m speaking you can pretend you’re doing questions and of course I can believe that while you are not listening you are actually asking a question. It’s a great system, I really like it.” Surely he wasn’t suggesting NHS managers are attached to their Blackberries?