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Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCS
HealthTech
MBCS
Thomas writes to inform, inspire, and equip practice leaders and health professionals navigating change, drawing on two decades of hands-on work across the UK health system.
With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of healthcare and technology, Thomas is a trusted voice on practice operations, digital transformation, and patient engagement. A seasoned expert in supporting primary care and NHS practices, he brings deep insight into the real-world challenges—and opportunities—of delivering better care through smarter systems. Whether advising on workflow redesign, digital tools, or service innovation, Thomas combines strategic thinking with a practical understanding of what works on the ground.
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The NHS is one of the UK’s proudest achievements. It was founded on the principle that healthcare should be available to everyone, free at the point of use, and based on need rather than ability to pay. To make sure that principle is protected, the NHS Constitution sets out what patients, the public, and staff can expect. Sometimes called the Patient Charter, it pulls together your legal rights (which the NHS must uphold), alongside the pledges the NHS makes to you (commitments that go beyond what the law requires). It also includes your responsibilities as a patient because the NHS can only function if we all use it fairly and respectfully. But what does this mean in practice? And why does it matter in real life, especially at a time when the NHS is under huge strain? Let’s explore.
If you buy the weight-loss medicine Mounjaro privately in the UK you may see a steep price increase from September. The change will not affect you if you get your medicine from the NHS. Here we show what are the alternatives and what you need to think about if you change or stop taking medicines.
Parents and caregivers have been advised by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to stop giving children Nutrition Ignition Kids Magnesium Glycinate Gummies. Read here to find out why the warning has been issued and what you need to do about it.
A major change to one of the NHS’s most widely used diabetes and heart medicines could save hundreds of millions of pounds and make proven treatments more accessible to thousands of patients across the UK. The change centres on dapagliflozin - a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and certain kidney conditions. It belongs to a family of drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors - sometimes called 'flozins' - which have been described as one of the most important advances in diabetes and heart care in the last decade. Now that the medicine’s patent has been ruled invalid, generic dapagliflozin, identical in safety and effectiveness to the branded version, can be prescribed on the NHS at a much lower cost.
Many of us have moles - small, often harmless marks on the skin that may change slowly over time. But sometimes, a new mole or changes in an existing one can cause worry. While most changes are harmless, it’s important to know when to get a professional opinion, as early detection is key in spotting skin cancer.
