In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack speaks with Finn Stevenson about Flok Health and the idea of an AI physiotherapy service for back pain. Finn frames the problem clearly: in musculoskeletal care, especially within the NHS, the issue is often not knowing what works, but getting timely access to the care that already exists. With demand rising faster than workforce growth, traditional one-to-one care models struggle to keep up.

Finn explains that Flok is not positioned as a software tool sold to clinicians, but as a regulated clinical service that combines AI with remote human physiotherapy support. Its current focus is spinal pain, particularly the large group of patients who can benefit from personalised exercise, reassurance, behaviour change support, education, and psychologically informed care. The ambition is to automate large parts of the pathway safely and consistently, while freeing face-to-face clinicians to focus on more complex cases.

A major part of the conversation explores how this works. Finn distinguishes Flok’s system from standard large language model chatbots, arguing that healthcare needs much tighter behavioural control. He describes a rule-based clinical reasoning system combined with a video-based interaction model built around “Kirsty,” a real physiotherapist whose filmed responses are assembled in real time to create a more human and engaging consultation experience.

The discussion also tackles controversy: what counts as “physiotherapy,” whether this threatens the profession, and what happens when technology enters clinical care at scale. Jack remains probing but open-minded, while Finn argues that the bigger ethical issue is leaving patients stuck on long waits for care we already know how to deliver.

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In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack speaks with Andrew Walton, offering what Andrew describes as “a view from the top” of healthcare leadership and professional practice .

The conversation explores Andrew’s career journey and the lessons that come from working across clinical practice, leadership roles, and wider healthcare systems. Rather than focusing purely on clinical skills, Andrew highlights the importance of systems thinking, collaboration, and understanding the broader context in which healthcare operates.

A key theme of the discussion is the gap that can exist between frontline clinicians and decision-making structures. Andrew reflects on how leaders must balance competing pressures: workforce constraints, service demands, financial limitations, and patient outcomes. From this perspective, clinical excellence alone is not enough — meaningful change requires clinicians to engage with the organisational and strategic dimensions of healthcare.

Jack and Andrew also discuss how clinicians can develop leadership capabilities throughout their careers. Leadership is not framed as a job title but as a mindset and responsibility, where clinicians contribute to improving services, supporting colleagues, and advocating for better patient care.

Importantly, Andrew emphasises that leadership roles can feel distant or inaccessible to many clinicians. However, understanding how decisions are made — and how clinicians can influence them — helps bridge the gap between policy, management, and clinical practice.

Ultimately, the episode offers a reflective look at the profession from a strategic vantage point, encouraging clinicians to think beyond individual patient encounters and consider their wider role in shaping healthcare systems.

In this episode of Chewing It Over, Jack is joined by Hannah Poulton to explore a topic that clinicians encounter frequently but often feel underprepared to manage: scars and their rehabilitation .

The conversation examines the wide-ranging impact that scars can have on patients. While scars are often thought of as purely cosmetic issues, Hannah explains that they can influence pain, movement, tissue sensitivity, and psychological wellbeing. Depending on their depth, location, and the tissue layers involved, scars may contribute to stiffness, restricted movement, or altered sensory responses.

Hannah discusses how clinicians should approach scar management from a broader perspective rather than focusing solely on appearance. Scar assessment involves understanding tissue behaviour, mobility, and sensitivity as well as recognising the emotional and psychological significance scars can hold for patients.

The discussion also highlights common misconceptions around scar treatment. While many manual techniques and topical approaches are promoted in practice, the evidence base remains mixed, meaning clinicians must combine available research with clinical reasoning and patient goals.

Importantly, Hannah emphasises the value of early education and patient empowerment. Helping patients understand how scars mature, adapt, and respond to loading can reduce fear and improve engagement with rehabilitation.

Ultimately, this episode reframes scars not simply as marks on the skin, but as dynamic biological structures that interact with movement, sensation, and patient experience. With thoughtful assessment and a patient-centred approach, clinicians can play a meaningful role in improving both function and confidence for people living with scars.

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