This week I’ve been talking to Theresa Finn, GP and Clinical Safety Officer (CSO) at babblevoice. Having realised her childhood dream of becoming a GP – despite the best efforts of a discouraging headteacher! - Theresa has been dedicated to working in primary care for over thirty years. She now juggles the roles of GP for the MoD based at RAF Halton with supporting the business her husband, Nick Knight co-founded, as CSO.
What is a CSO and what drew you to the role?
A CSO is a registered healthcare professional, such as a doctor, who is responsible for ensuring a health tech product/company complies with clinical safety standards. Essentially, we act as the guardians of patient safety within the context of health tech usage.
I first got involved in the role because Nick asked me if I’d do it! But I was genuinely interested in what the role would involve. I am in no way what you’d call a tech-savvy person but I do believe passionately in the importance of having a patient-centred approach in any health-related technology. Tech certainly has a critical role in primary care today, but its use should have a patient first approach, rather than being tech-led.
What’s a typical day for you?
I carry out the CSO role part-time, together with practising as a GP for the RAF. So, no two days are the same!
I regularly spend time with other members of the babblevoice team to ensure we are all up to date with requirements and that our compliance documentation is in order. I also input to the development meetings acting on behalf of patients. Babblevoice telephony is specialised for primary care so patients are very much at the heart of what we do but it’s helpful for the team to have someone like me who works first-hand with patients to provide that perspective.
I monitor babblevoice’s compliance with UK standards such as DCB0129 and DCB0160 so I often spend time keeping abreast with the guidelines for clinical safety. We’re always working on improvements and upgrades to the babblevoice system, so each time we implement a change, I need to ensure I’ve assessed any new risks to patient safety.
What do you like best about this role?
I really enjoy getting to look at healthcare through a different lens. It’s opened my eyes to what is possible for the future. I enjoy being part of a larger team than I’m used to. We recently held our annual get together and it was lovely to spend time with everyone.
And of course, it’s great that I can help to support the company that Nick founded. I’m so very proud of him and all the team for building babblevoice into the success it is today.
What do you feel excited about for the future?
Tech has played a critical role in healthcare for hundreds of years now – I think the stethoscope dates back to the early 1800’s! Today, there are so many new opportunities for primary healthcare from new technologies – particularly from AI. We’re currently looking at ways to use AI to support areas such as triage, signposting, and GP note taking.
And while this is a great opportunity, it must be explored with patient safety at the forefront of every new development. I’m excited about the creativity of future solutions and welcome the new challenges it will bring as CSO.
I know we’re just one cog in the wide gamut of developing tech to modernise the NHS, but it’s hugely rewarding to know that I can bring a reality check and represent the voice of the patients to everything we do.
Want to find out more about babblevoice telephony and our patient-centred approach to innovation and technology? Get in touch with us for a chat and a demo: info@babblevoice.com
