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In this episode of Up, Up & Away, host Dom Burch is joined by Naomi Watt, from Asthma + Lung UK, for a wide-ranging conversation about behaviour, motivation, and what it really takes to design digital health tools that people actually use.

Naomi reflects on her early career as a respiratory nurse — from reading X-rays on lightboxes to working in A&E, general practice and helplines — and how her passion for learning helped her absorb knowledge almost by osmosis. But she also shares a pivotal realisation: just because she cared deeply about respiratory health didn’t mean everyone else did, or could, in the same way.

That insight became central to her later work. Post-COVID, Asthma + Lung UK recognised that healthcare professionals themselves were a missing link in improving care for people with lung conditions. Clinicians were coming from a huge range of backgrounds — GPs, paramedics, pharmacists, practice nurses — with very different levels of confidence, knowledge and support, often working in isolation within a stretched NHS.

This led Naomi to design the Health Professionals Hub: a dedicated digital portal built not around information overload, but around how people feel when they go looking for help. Drawing on self-determination theory, she explains how autonomy, competence and relatedness underpin engagement — particularly when healthcare professionals are dealing with imposter syndrome or uncertainty.

Naomi introduces the memorable idea of three “knowledge moments” — the “oh no”, “oh” and “ah” moments — and how designing for psychological safety, accessibility and plain English can turn panic into curiosity. She shares practical examples of how small, thoughtful tools can lead to meaningful changes in clinical practice and patient outcomes.

The conversation then widens to young people with long-term conditions, exploring why digital health tools must reflect real life rather than neat clinical silos — and why collaboration matters more than duplication. Naomi makes a powerful case for charities, the NHS and technology partners working together, sharing trusted expertise so it can travel further and reach people in the moments that matter.

This episode is not about an app. It’s about empathy, behaviour, and what it means to design healthcare systems that help people feel capable, connected and supported.

Topics covered

• Naomi’s journey from frontline clinician to system-level designer
• Why healthcare professionals were the “missing link” post-COVID
• Designing for motivation, not just information
• Self-determination theory: autonomy, competence and belonging
• Psychological safety and tackling imposter syndrome
• Why collaboration beats duplication in digital health
• Supporting young people with long-term conditions in the real world

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In this episode of Up, Up and Away, Dom Burch speaks with Bethan Almeida, a senior nurse in Brent Health Matters, about childhood asthma, health inequalities, and what effective, community-led healthcare looks like in practice.

Bethan leads the children’s asthma workstream in one of the UK’s most diverse boroughs, where 149 languages are spoken and many families face barriers around health literacy, income, housing, and access to care. Her role bridges clinical care, public health, and system improvement, with a focus on preventing avoidable asthma harm.

Bethan explains how traditional healthcare pathways often disadvantage families who lack time, money, or confidence to navigate complex systems. Too many children reach specialist care far later than necessary, when much of the harm could have been prevented earlier in the community.

A key insight is that clinicians are not always the most trusted messengers. Families may say everything is fine in appointments, but share the reality with people they already trust — sports coaches, faith leaders, or community organisers. These individuals often have regular contact with families and the time to spot issues early and offer practical support.

Brent’s progress has been enabled by genuine NHS–council collaboration, using existing public health networks rather than building relationships from scratch. This has helped shift care from reactive to proactive — bringing services to families rather than waiting for crises.

One of the most powerful themes is what Bethan calls “compassionate discrimination”. Well-meaning professionals sometimes withhold full advice — for example about reducing dust mites or improving ventilation — because they assume families can’t afford to act on it. While compassionate, this lowers the bar of information and deepens inequality. Bethan argues that everyone deserves the same information, with extra support provided to help those who need it act on that advice.

The team also moved away from standard leaflets after communities said they were inaccessible. Instead, they co-designed simple, visual, multimedia resources that people actually use.

A standout innovation is the Asthma Community Coaches programme — trained local volunteers who support families, challenge myths, make referrals into clinical pathways, and feed real-world insight back into the system. To date, 58 volunteers have completed the programme.

As a result of this work, Brent now has local asthma diagnosis, high-risk clinics, and sustainable pathways that will continue beyond individual staff members.

The episode reinforces a simple but powerful message: people don’t need less information — they need better translation, better support, and genuine partnership.

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In this episode of Up, Up and Away, Dom talks to Matt Bourne, CTO at Tiny Medical Apps, about the company’s remarkable eight-year journey to integrating NHS Login into the Digital Health Passport (DHP) — a major milestone in connecting young people with long-term conditions directly to the NHS.

What sounds like a technical integration is, in reality, the culmination of years of persistence, setbacks, and breakthroughs. Matt shares how TMA began as a small team building multiple patient-facing apps, before realising that regulatory complexity made that model unsustainable — and why creating one trusted, NHS-connected platform became the way forward.

From the early days of hackathons to navigating reorganisations, changing sponsors, and evolving NHS standards, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to deliver digital innovation within the health system.

💡 In this episode, Matt shares:

• How Tiny Medical Apps became one of the first SMEs to be offered NHS Login access — and what being an early adopter really meant.
• Why medication adherence became the company’s north star after coroner reports revealed most asthma deaths in young people were preventable.
• How NHS Login transforms the DHP, allowing patients to securely access care plans, reorder medication, and build trusted connections with their GP records.
• What the integration process actually involves — from hazard logs and sandbox testing to balancing safety with accessibility for teenage users.
• How behaviour change theory (COM-B) underpins the app’s design, combining nudges, reminders, and gamified learning to improve long-term health outcomes.
• Why TMA partners with charities like Asthma + Lung UK and Epilepsy charities to deliver clinically accurate content at scale, instead of building it themselves.
• How TikTok and social platforms have helped them reach and engage young people who are often considered “hard to reach” by traditional health services.

🧠 Key Takeaway

🚀 Why This Matters

This episode is a powerful reminder that health innovation takes time, collaboration, and resilience.
TMA’s journey shows how small companies can play a big role in transforming patient care — proving that persistence and open standards can open doors that once felt closed.

For young people managing asthma, epilepsy, sickle cell, or other long-term conditions, NHS Login is more than a sign-in screen. It’s a step toward independence, better medication adherence, and fewer preventable emergencies.

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In this episode of Up, Up & Away, host Dom Burch sits down with Dr Tom Chambers and Dr David Dawson to explore one of the NHS’s most overlooked health challenges: obstructive sleep apnoea.

More than 9 million adults in the UK remain undiagnosed, making sleep apnoea one of the biggest untreated conditions affecting public health. Untreated sleep disorders significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and road traffic accidents—yet referral pathways, diagnostic capacity and waiting times remain major barriers across the country.

Tom and David explain why traditional, hospital-led models simply can’t cope with the rising demand (referrals for sleep studies have gone up by 102%) and how their innovation, Theta Sleep, is aiming to transform diagnosis and treatment by delivering a fully digital, end-to-end pathway that patients can access from home.

👇 In this episode:

• Why sleep apnoea is so widely under-diagnosed
• The story behind Bradford’s first sleep clinic
• What inspired Tom and David to co-found Theta Sleep
• Why every stage of the current pathway is a bottleneck
• The role of new NICE-approved home sleep diagnostics
• How digital tools reduce unnecessary appointments
• Why patients don’t always need to see a consultant
• The preventative health opportunity in sleep medicine
• What needs to change in the NHS to scale care
• Why sleep is now recognised as the fourth pillar of health

💡 Key Quotes

🌙 Why this matters

Sleep disorders dramatically increase long-term morbidity and mortality, yet public conversations focus mostly on “sleep hygiene tips” like screen time and 8-hour sleep targets. As Tom explains, the bigger problem is the millions of people living with undiagnosed clinical sleep disorders that require proper diagnosis and treatment.

Digital-first, community-based care could change that—and improve population health at scale.

🎧 Listen if you’re interested in:

• NHS innovation
• digital health and remote care
• preventative healthcare
• respiratory medicine
• chronic condition management
• medical entrepreneurship
• clinical pathways and redesign
• health tech startup stories

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In the latest episode of the Up, Up and Away podcast hosts Dom and Saira caught up with Hamdoun, a 19-year-old assistant PE teacher from South London and new ambassador for Tiny Medical Apps' Digital Health Passport.

Hamdoun is currently working in a primary school near Wembley Stadium, is passionate about supporting young people, especially those with asthma and long-term conditions.

Background & Role

• Initially wanted to be a footballer; discovered a love for sports coaching during sixth form.
• Works with children aged 4–11 and engages with every student throughout the week.
• Sees physical activity as essential for health and personal development.

Asthma & Young People

• Many pupils in his school live with asthma, but older children often shy away from discussing it.
• Some feel ashamed or fear being mocked, leading to reluctance in using inhalers or disclosing their condition.
• Emphasises normalising asthma through open conversations and preparedness.

Practical Action & Support

• Proactively checks asthma status before school trips and matches.
• Shares a powerful story about noticing a child struggling during a football match due to asthma—his support and quick action made a real difference.
• Discovered an expired inhaler and followed up directly with the parent to stress the importance of medication checks.

Digital Health Passport

• Excited to become a Digital Health Passport ambassador to further support young people.
• Believes in empowering children to speak up and take ownership of their condition.
• Sees technology as a valuable tool to remind parents and pupils about medication and expiry dates.

Advice to Young People

• Don’t be ashamed—you're not alone.
• Share symptoms and personal preferences with trusted adults like PE teachers.
• Participation in sport can boost both physical and mental health—even for those with asthma.

Suggestions for Schools

• More frequent reminders to parents about checking medication expiry dates.
• Foster environments where students feel safe discussing their health.

Hamdoun brings empathy, leadership, and lived experience to his role. He’s a role model helping children play hard and breathe easy, showing that supporting young people with asthma isn’t about over complication—it’s about caring, preparing, and listening.

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In this powerful episode (timed to coincide with the build up to this year's Clean Air Day on 19th June), Dom Burch is joined by Agnes Agyepong—maternal health advocate, founder of Black Child, Clean Air, and creator of the Glow Mama Awards.

Agnes shares how her personal experience of being ignored as a mother led her to uncover the hidden impact of air pollution on children’s health, particularly in Black and working-class communities.

She opens up about battling suicidal thoughts while pregnant, and how she transformed pain into purpose—campaigning for environmental and maternal health justice, and building one of the UK’s largest digital awards for mums on social media.

You’ll hear about:

• The systemic challenges facing Black mothers in the NHS
• How air pollution nearly claimed her daughter’s life—and sparked a nationwide campaign
• The birth of Black Child, Clean Air and its viral impact
• Agnes’s journey through maternal mental health and the healing power of affirmation
• The creation of Glow Mama and its mission to celebrate motherhood in all its forms
• What digital health innovators need to get right for parents

Agnes is a force of nature. Her story is a call to action—for belief, community, and change.

⚠️ Trigger Warning

This episode includes discussion of maternal mental health and suicidal thoughts. If you’ve been affected, support is available. (See below.)

🧠 Support and Resources

• Samaritans (24/7): Call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
• PANDAS Foundation (Perinatal Mental Health): pandasfoundation.org.uk | 0808 1961 776
• Mind (Mental Health Support): mind.org.uk
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance: maternalmentalhealthalliance.org

🔗 Connect with Agnes

• Website: globalcmh.org
• Instagram: @globalchildandmaternalhealth
• LinkedIn: Agnes Agyepong

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In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Up Up and Away, hosts Dom Burch and Saira Arif launch the Breathe Easy, Play Hard campaign, dedicated to empowering young athletes with asthma.

Sparked by the untimely passing of Saira's close friend Brendt Barrett, a strength coach who lived with asthma and sadly died of cancer, the campaign encourages open conversations between young athletes and their coaches about managing asthma both on and off the pitch.

Dom and Saira explore why asthma is often a hidden condition in sports and emphasise the importance of normalising it in sporting conversations. They discuss the emotional and physical challenges young athletes face and highlight how even small adjustments—like taking time to use an inhaler—can be the difference between fear and freedom in sports.

They shine a spotlight on the vital role coaches and PE teachers play in creating inclusive, supportive environments and introduce the Digital Health Passport, a free app to help athletes track symptoms and take control of their condition. The duo call for collaboration with schools, sports clubs, and parents—especially in South East London—to join the movement, reduce stigma, and ensure no child is sidelined by asthma.

Saira shares personal insights about navigating asthma in Dubai’s unique environment, from sandstorms to air-conditioned buildings, underscoring the importance of being alert to global and personal triggers.

This episode is not just a tribute to Brendt and the work that he did, but a call to action—inviting listeners to share their stories and help shift the narrative so that asthma becomes a part of the sports conversation, not a barrier to success.

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In this episode, Dom Burch sits down with Inhaler Tailor founders Will and Harriet Hogge, alongside marketing intern Lauren McClean, to discuss their innovative approach to asthma care, their journey as entrepreneurs, and the impact of their product.

From Idea to Innovation: The Birth of Inhaler Tailor

Will Hogge, originally from a tech background, shares his journey from working at Microsoft and running an elephant sanctuary to launching Inhaler Tailor. The idea was born when he saw his goddaughter struggle with asthma medication adherence. Wanting to make inhalers more appealing, he created a customisable case that turns an essential medical device into something fun and personalised.

Breaking the Stigma Around Inhaler Use

Asthma inhalers are often associated with weakness in popular media, reinforcing a stigma that makes young people reluctant to use them in public. The Inhaler Tailor cases aim to change that by transforming inhalers into accessories that users are proud to carry. Bright, stylish designs—including rubber ducks, unicorns, and even glow-in-the-dark options—help children and adults alike embrace their inhalers rather than hiding them.

The Power of Social Media and Dragon’s Den Exposure

Harriet explains how a TikTok video unexpectedly went viral, garnering over 3 million views in just two weeks. This pivotal moment not only boosted visibility but also caught the attention of Dragon’s Den, leading to a game-changing opportunity for the business. With social media as a core marketing strategy, they’ve seen firsthand how video content resonates with younger audiences, helping normalise inhaler use.

The Bigger Picture: NHS Collaboration and Clinical Trials

While Inhaler Tailor has gained traction with individual customers, Will and Harriet are working toward wider adoption within the UK healthcare system. NHS trusts have already begun placing bulk orders, but navigating the complexities of funding and research remains a challenge. A study with York St John University and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital is in the works to quantify the impact of their cases on medication adherence. Will and Harriet's early research suggests 76% of users take their inhaler more regularly, and 99% find their inhaler easier to locate.

What’s Next for Inhaler Tailor?

Looking ahead, Inhaler Tailor aims to expand internationally, particularly in the U.S. They’re also focused on securing NHS backing and funding for a full-scale clinical trial to further validate the product’s benefits. They invite NHS professionals and potential collaborators to reach out and help drive this initiative forward.

Find Out More

For more on Inhaler Tailor, visit inhalertailor.com or simply search Inhaler Case online. They’re also available via WhatsApp on their website for direct inquiries.