Critical analysis of the NHS England and Improvement podcast
What worked well, what could have been improved and how I will use some of the narrative techniques in my podcast
For my narrative portfolio, I want to explore the topic of outpatients. An outpatient is someone who visits the hospital and is discharged on the same day.
Covid-19 has significantly impacted this particular area of the health service since the lockdown.
Fears over NHS hospitals reaching capacity and concerns over catching the virus has meant people are not using the services available.
This includes blood tests, scans and other daily practices.
The NHS England and NHS Improvement Podcast is a monthly show which focuses on Primary Care Networks.
While the topic discussed is not the area I want to pursue, the concept and structure remain the same. I want to speak to healthcare professionals and after listening to this podcast, there are elements I will look to replicate.
What worked well?
I listened to the latest episode which was focused on using digital platforms in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
There was an effaced narrator (host) and two doctors joined the show. The narrator would provide background information and then bring in the two doctors for comment.
Overall, I think the format worked. It turned into a smooth Q&A format with a clear plan of what the discussion would be about.
One of the best aspects of the show was the opening 30 seconds. It drew upon Genette’s work in Narrative Discourse. The podcast begins with snippets from both guests which would be explored in further detail as the podcast progressed.
This is what can be described as an ‘annonce’ which “refers in advance to an event that will be told in full in its place” (Gentte 1979, in; Bridgeman 2005, p.125).
As listeners, we are intrigued and can start putting together a brief mental picture of some of the upcoming events. This narrative technique is known as ‘prolepsis’.
“The essence of prolepsis lies in the mismatch between the order of the narrative and the notional chronological story.” (Bridgeman 2005, p.126)
Taking an interest in the interviewees
While this may seem obvious, investing in what the guest has to say will undoubtedly lead to better verbal exchanges.
This blog post by Rao (2018) explains why showing an interest helps and highlights the importance of questioning:
“When your curiosity about another person is genuine, it’s much easier to ask interesting and provocative questions.”
I could hear the interest of the narrator who also had prior knowledge. This was evident with her questions and it formulated an insightful show.
In addition, the host also found a good balance between her own speech and the participants.
An excellent blog by Yaro Starak emphasises the need to “let the person you are interviewing do the talking.”
As a host, you need to assume the role of a facilitator and this NHS podcast achieves that.
The two doctors are given a platform to share their knowledge, what they have been doing and how they have adapted.
If you simply break it down to why someone reads or listens to a piece of media, commonly it is to further educate themselves or learn something.
From this podcast, I learnt about the E-hubs each CCG have established and how practitioners have received training to carry out appointments remotely.
The coda was noticeable at the end of the podcast. Both doctors were able to address future issues and projects they would like to pursue.
We were also given a plethora of websites and contacts we could access in our respective local areas. This formed the Call to Action (CTA) to try and continue the discussion.
What could have been improved?
As a listener, we are not presented with the abstract at the start of the podcast. More so, there is an introduction of each participant and I feel this could have been moved to the description.
I would have liked to have been told that the show was on the challenges of Covid-19 and how digital platforms are helping the health service.
This would have been much more effective in terms of presenting the start of the narrative and making it clear to the listener.
The aforementioned quotes at the start set the foundations, but then the orientation was weak. Furthermore, we were not given a succinct evaluation, or in other words, a so what? Certain topics were touched upon but could have been related to the wider context of the NHS.
What have I learnt from listening and wider reading?
‘Prolepsis’, otherwise known as “telling before time” (Genette, 1979), is a technique I am going to implement in my podcast.
My thinking would be to start the podcast with some important quotes. This alters the chronological path of the narrative and is a good way of stimulating a mental response from the listener in the early ongoings.
After listening to Jerod Morris and Jon Nastor on ‘The Showrunner’, I will “always think of the guest and their perspective”.
Finding a suitable time for the participant is imperative and letting them do the talking should be the focus.
