The murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in 2023 exposed devastating and preventable failures across England’s safeguarding system. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune examines the findings of the official Child Safeguarding Practice Review, which revealed serious breakdowns in information sharing, court processes, domestic abuse risk management, and professional oversight. He explores how flawed decisions, cultural hesitancy, and weak accountability allowed known risks to go unchallenged, ultimately costing Sara her life. The article calls for urgent systemic reform - stronger leadership, clearer thresholds, and integrated multi-agency working - to ensure no child is ever failed in the same way again.

Children’s mental health services in England have long been fragmented, creating barriers to timely and coordinated care. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune examines West Sussex County Council’s pioneering “Psychological Hub”, a unified, psychology-led model that brings together education, health, and social care under one leadership team. He explores how this integrated approach could simplify access, strengthen governance, and improve outcomes for children and families. The article also highlights lessons for health and care leaders on workforce capacity, data interoperability, and compliance, showing how joined-up systems like ComplyPlus™ can support safer, more effective, and sustainable mental health provision.

The Lampard Enquiry is the first statutory public investigation into deaths in NHS mental health inpatient care, examining more than 2,000 cases in Essex. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune explores how its findings are reshaping the national conversation on patient safety, governance, and accountability across the NHS. He highlights how systemic failures in leadership, culture, and oversight have driven the need for reform, and why the enquiry’s lessons must translate into lasting change through stronger governance frameworks, digital compliance systems, and compassionate, learning-driven leadership.

From 29 October 2025, women in England can access the morning-after pill free of charge at nearly 10,000 community pharmacies. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune examines how this landmark NHS initiative expands access, equality, and reproductive choice while placing pharmacies at the centre of women’s healthcare. He explores how the move tackles cost barriers, strengthens community-based care, and embeds governance, safeguarding, and professional training to ensure safe, equitable, and compassionate service delivery across England.

From 29 October 2025, women in England can now access the morning-after pill free of charge at nearly 10,000 community pharmacies. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune examines how this milestone in women’s health expands access, equality, and reproductive choice through pharmacy-led NHS services. He explores how the initiative removes long-standing barriers to contraception, strengthens community healthcare, and embeds governance, training, and safeguarding into service delivery. This policy marks a cultural shift toward proactive, equitable, and compassionate reproductive care at the heart of every community.