Augustus Mohan - KHPeople

What is your role within King’s Health Partners?

I'm the Private Patients Business Development Manager for Adult Services, part of Guy's and St Thomas' Specialist Care based in St Thomas' Hospital. We provide private patient services and expert care across specialist areas, including heart, lung, adult, women, and children’s health. 

In my remit for Adult Services, I help generate additional revenue that goes back into our NHS services. I develop private patient activity with the help of our consultants and NHS colleagues within my clinical groups under cancer and surgery, and integrated and specialist medicine.

I joined the NHS as an apprentice instead of going to university. I started my career as a ward clerk, and with time advanced to various roles to improve on my skills and knowledge in service management, operations management, contracts and now business development in the senior management team over the span of 12 years.

I have worked in various NHS trusts in and out of London within their NHS Private Patient Units. One of these trusts was King’s College Hospital NHS FT, a part of KHP. I worked within its international and private patient services team.

I chose to remain in private patients all these years because it offers me the opportunity to engage with every specialty and its staff, while also generating income for our trusts. Being a people person who loves problem-solving, I get to use these skills daily.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Working in a great team is what I value the most. In my current role I work as part of the senior management team in adult services. Under the guidance of our Head, I get to work closely on a daily basis with our Clinical Lead, Operations Manager, Matron, Finance Manager and Marketing Manager to develop and implement strategies for high-quality patient care to achieve our goals.

I enjoy the daily wins and challenges of developing service offerings from scratch or building on what capacity we have to work with. The exposure to so many services and departments allows me to engage with clinical and non-clinical staff on a daily basis. The staff engagement is very important to me, as I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their roles and departments, and how my service can best help achieve their targets and thus benefit our patients as a whole. 

What inspired you to get into this work?

Beginning my journey as an apprentice in NHS recruitment, I explored various departments and support services that promised solid career progression over time. Initially, I was puzzled to learn about the existence of private patients in the NHS, having assumed that only private hospitals offered such services. However, upon delving deeper, I discovered that the revenue generated by private patient units is reinvested into the NHS trust, benefiting the departments and services that need it most. This rewarding aspect of giving back has been a central motivator behind my dedication to the NHS, especially within the private patients unit.

I was inspired to pursue my career by the exceptional line managers, mentors, and colleagues I've had the privilege of working with and still do now. Their guidance, support, and wealth of knowledge laid the foundation for everything I know today. They not only taught me the niche skills needed for success in my field of work, but also encouraged me to excel and believe in my potential. Their influence has been instrumental in shaping my passion and dedication to my work.

What are the benefits of working in partnership?

Working in partnership offers numerous benefits, I have witnessed the collaborative efforts of renowned institutions like King's Health Partners, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care, and the London Specialist Hospitals.

At King's Health Partners, the integration of three major NHS foundation trusts and King’s College London exemplifies the strength that comes from combining world-class research, education, and clinical practice. By merging these elements, the partnership is able to translate cutting-edge research into innovative patient care, focusing on improving health outcomes and developing new treatments. This integration not only enhances the quality of patient care but also drives advancements in medical science, showcasing how academic excellence and practical healthcare delivery can lead to a global leadership role in fields such as cancer care, mental health, and cardiovascular health.

Similarly, the launch of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Specialist Care, which merges the expertise of five prestigious hospitals (Guy's, St Thomas’, Evelina London, Royal Brompton, and Harefield), illustrates the benefits of bringing together diverse specialties to offer comprehensive care. This service enhances patient outcomes by providing seamless, multidisciplinary specialist care for complex cases. By expanding facilities and reinvesting profits into the NHS, this partnership ensures that advancements in healthcare are continually supported, illustrating how collaborative efforts can lead to enhanced patient care and broader healthcare improvements.

The London Specialist Hospitals network further highlights the advantages of working in partnership. By combining the expertise of five leading hospitals in areas like heart and lung diseases, cancer, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and paediatrics, this collaboration ensures that patients receive the highest standard of care while ensuring generated income is reinvested back into the NHS.

The shared commitment to innovation and excellence among these institutions enhances their ability to address complex medical conditions effectively. The collective expertise and state-of-the-art facilities of these hospitals make them trusted centres of excellence, demonstrating how partnerships can elevate patient care and foster ongoing advancements in medical treatment.

What would be your career top tips?

I’m a big advocate for promoting staff development through mentoring and education, so a career top tip would be to actively engage in professional development opportunities.

In my role, I make continuous learning a priority. I stay updated with the latest NHS and private healthcare market developments and actively seek out internal and external colleagues who can enhance my skills and knowledge for my current role. This helps me stay relevant and effective in my role.

I also focus on building and maintaining a strong network. I connect with colleagues across different departments and engage in professional groups to gain valuable insights and uncover new opportunities for myself and my team. Networking helps me stay informed and opens doors to various business development possibilities within the NHS and externally within the market.

I encourage staff to participate in relevant training programmes and workshops (related to their field of work and within the service capacity) while seeking out mentorship and taking on diverse projects that challenge and expand their skill set. This approach helps staff build a robust skillset and positions them to fulfil their potential, ultimately contributing effectively to their development and the improvement of patient care within the NHS.