Christine Blanshard

I was the Medical Director at Salisbury district Hospital when we admitted the victims of Novichok poisoning in 2018. At the time there was intense media focus on the hospital, its staff and the city and a constant onslaught of fake news on social media. I was accused of lying when I gave updates on the patients' condition. of detaining the patients in hospital against their will and refusing to allow them to see family and friends. I received letters purporting to come form the Russian Embassy, others from people claiming inside knowledge of events. and of course there was the constant stream of "experts" on TV and in newspapers giving unsolicited advice.

I left Salisbury in 2020 and after a year at NHS England was appointed as CMO of Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust, often under scrutiny for ambulance handover delays and elective performance targets, and much less often celebrated for digital innovation, leadership on the green agenda and making real quality improvements.