Confidence To Thrive - a podcast for ambitious healthcare practitioners and entrepreneurs

Christopher Cloke Browne
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  • Entrepreneurship

Confidence to Thrive is a podcast built for practitioners and healthcare entrepreneurs who are doing something that matters - building innovative practices in functional medicine, aesthetics, integrative healthcare and mental health, while navigating the regulatory complexity that comes with it. 

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 31 - Designing and modernising private healthcare practices with Mike Sandhu, SC Architecture

    Designing and Modernising Private Healthcare Practices In this episode of Confidence to Thrive, Owlicity director Christopher Cloke Browne speaks with Mike Sandhu of SC Architecture, an RIBA chartered practice specialising in private healthcare practices and pharmacies, about how building and environment design affects modern patient needs and regulatory compliance.  They discuss how many owners inherit older practices and face constraints such as accessibility, level thresholds, maintenance costs, disruption and downtime when refurbishing or extending, versus the costs and catchment-area limits of relocating or building new.  Mike explains SC Architecture’s feasibility-led approach, including costing options such as extension, relocation, light-touch refurb or doing nothing, and supporting planning, building regulations and CQC-related design requirements.  They discuss practice flow, fire strategy, M&E considerations like ventilation, differences between GP, dental and other clinic layouts, and trends toward more attractive, tech-enabled and multidisciplinary “one-stop” practices, including pharmacies shifting to more consultation space. Episode time stamps 01:01 Introducing Mike Sandhu, SC Architecture02:16 Inherited practices and upgrades03:28 Old buildings and accessibility04:47 Move, extend or do nothing?05:55 Planning building regs and CQC07:44 Designing patient and practice flow09:01 Tech and building services10:08 Layouts by specialty11:53 Future proofing and details13:58 The modern private practice look15:30 Multidisciplinary clinics and pharmacy first approach18:12 Recent projects and trends19:42 Getting in touch with MikeFollow Mike: Mike Sandhu - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesandhu SC Architecture - Website https://www.sc-architecture.co.uk Who are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 31 - Designing and modernising private healthcare practices with Mike Sandhu, SC Architecture

  2. Oct 21

    Episode 30 - Conversations from CCR 2026

    CCR 2026 Highlights: Longevity, Sustainability and Managing Risk in Aesthetics This episode of Confidence to Thrive continues coverage from CCR 2026 at London’s ExCeL Centre, with Owlicity director Christopher Cloke Browne speaking with Sharon Allen (Omnyy LLP) and Adrian Richards (Cosmetic Courses and iQonic Aesthetics) about what felt different this year.  They discuss a busier show, the emergence of longevity-focused, holistic aesthetics (including hormones, functional medicine and lifestyle topics), and new UK white‑label Korean skincare brands.  Episode time stamps 00:58 - In conversation with Sharon Allen, Omnyy02:06 - Trends at CCR02:59 - Longevity and holistic aesthetics04:55 - In conversation with Adrian Richards, Cosmetic Courses and iQonic Aesthetics05:13 - Sustainability in aesthetics06:01 - Business growth panel highlights07:37 - Longevity and Women’s Health08:59 - Owlicity expands to Ireland09:25 - Why Owlicity coverage matters10:52 - Claims prevention and documentation12:20 - Real case studies and serious claims Discover more about CCR here: https://www.ccrlondon.com Discover more about Cosmetic Courses here: https://cosmeticcourses.co.uk Connect with Sharon Allen - Omnyy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-allen-12a48942 Discover more about Omnyy here: https://omnyy.com Who are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 30 - Conversations from CCR 2026

  3. Oct 14

    Episode 29 - Cross-border prescribing - legal, regulatory and insurance challenges of teleconsultations

    Cross-border prescribing - challenges and risks of prescribing through telemedicine In this episode of Confidence to Thrive, Christopher Cloke Browne, director at Owlicity about the legal, regulatory, and insurance challenges of cross-border prescribing for GMC-registered doctors, especially in functional medicine where teleconsultations are common and patients are often international or mobile.  The discussion focuses on how some jurisdictions treat telemedicine as occurring where the patient is located (with Italy and the UAE cited as explicit examples), potentially requiring local registration and compliance with local medication rules and dosing standards.  Christopher distinguishs between diagnosing and treating, writing a prescription, and prescription fulfillment, noting that a UK consultation and prescription may be filled abroad, but follow-up teleconsultations while the patient is abroad can trigger local licensing issues.  It is important to verify patient location, check insurer coverage (as some exclude foreign telemedicine), and that unlicensed activity may invalidate insurance, while regulators may report concerns to the GMC. Episode time stamps 00:50 - Why understanding cross-border prescribing matters02:16 - Where 'care' legally occurs 04:20 - Rules on using telemedicine and teleconsultations05:47 - What signals risk?08:33 - The distinction between prescribing vs dispensing08:52 - UK prescriptions used overseas11:41 - The status of a follow up while a patient is abroad 14:10 - Practical compliance steps16:05 - Registration strategy18:09 - Potential legal and insurance falloutWho are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 29 - Cross-border prescribing - legal, regulatory and insurance challenges of teleconsultations

  4. Oct 7

    Episode 28 - CCR 2026 - Insight from the floor of the Clinical Cosmetic Regenerative Congress at Excel

    Inside CCR 2026 Christopher Cloke Browne, director at Owlicity, walks through the Clinical Cosmetic Regenerative Congress or CCR 2026 aesthetics conference at London’s ExCeL, highlighting the expanded Medical Longevity Summit with two stages and more educational, medically focused content than other shows.  He notes major device and laser manufacturers and the growing importance and cost of laser investment, alongside supporting services like software and finance.  In the longevity area, he highlights the prominence of functional wellness and nutrition (including BANT), and the concept of biological age testing to guide lifestyle and supplement interventions.  The discussion covers how practices are evolving from basic injectables to newer options like exosomes, the need to curate choices for clients, and rising private equity interest.  The discussion also turns to regulation and certified training via JCCP as well as medic vs non-medic tensions. Episode time stamps 00:00 Welcome to CCR 00:38 Main hall highlights01:17 The expansion of the Medical Longevity area03:16 The value of biological age04:35 Talks and the shift in the industry07:51 A greater focus on menopause09:01 New introductions to the show09:34 The cost of business11:57 Training and market players14:08 Regulation and safety15:30 Map My Mole innovation17:02 Medics vs non medics20:06 Global trends in beautyWho are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 28 - CCR 2026 - Insight from the floor of the Clinical Cosmetic Regenerative Congress at Excel

  5. Sep 30

    Episode 27 - Why taking great notes is your most effective defence against claims and complaints - best practice for clinical note-taking

    Defensible Note-Taking for Functional Medicine and Private Practice: Reducing Litigation Risk In this episode of Confidence To Thrive, Owlicity directors Christopher Cloke Browne and Roger Houston discuss best-practice note-taking for functional medicine and private healthcare, focusing on defensibility against negligence claims.  They explain how poor notes increase litigation risk, especially when clinicians rely on hearsay and emphasise documenting key clinical decision-making, options discussed, and quantifying risks rather than being overly discursive.  They discuss drivers of poor note-taking to be factors including time pressure, focus on patient attention, “doctor knows best” benevolence, and commercial pressures in private practice, including inappropriate deference to patient requests.  The hosts recommend peer review in larger practices, using brief repeat-entry notes to evidence ongoing communication patterns, and leveraging technology such as secure audio recordings and AI-assisted documentation, while cautioning about accuracy, GDPR, and cybersecurity. Episode time stamps 00:45 How great note-taking kills claims in their tracks04:06 Why most practitioners skip notes07:37 The private vs NHS gap11:33 What to include in your notes to make them defensible15:56 Team standards and the value of peer review17:28 Identifying patterns and high risk patients24:07 Using AI for note-takingWho are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

  6. Sep 23

    Episode 26 - Building a multi-disciplinary functional medicine practice with Dr Indra, Dr Indra Functional Medicine

    In this week’s episode of Confidence to Thrive, Christopher Cloke-Browne, director at Owlicity, speaks to Dr. Indra, NHS GP turned private functional medicine practitioner and president of the British College of Functional Medicine about her journey building a functional medicine clinic.  Dr. Indra describes becoming dissatisfied with NHS limitations, burnout, and discovering the Institute of Functional Medicine, leading her to build a patient-first practice under her own name.  They discuss the heavy regulatory and operational burden of launching a regulated clinic, the time-intensive nature of functional medicine consultations and evidence-informed decision-making, and challenges around patient expectations, practitioner training, safety, and insurance.  Dr. Indra explains developing a collaborative multidisciplinary team - nutrition therapy, coaching, pharmacy, psychotherapy, and consultants - organised around integrative health specialists who support patients throughout their journey. They also discuss the major opportunity in collating outcomes data, offering patient choice alongside conventional medicine, and addressing rising chronic disease with a health-span focus. Episode time stamps 00:57 Dr Indra’s journey03:31 Discovering functional medicine06:42 Evidence and patient outcomes09:02 Launching a regulated functional medicine clinic12:37 The functional medicine patient process15:04 Challenges facing functional medicine18:24 Building an integrative team25:41 Coaching and patient ownership31:43 The opportunities ahead Who are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 26 - Building a multi-disciplinary functional medicine practice with Dr Indra, Dr Indra Functional Medicine

  7. Sep 16

    Episode 25 - The 'Prescribing Risk' in functional medicine - how to overcome regulatory and negligence risks around prescribing and diagnosis

    Functional Medicine and Prescribing: Regulation, Roles and Risk in Multidisciplinary Practices In this episode of Confidence to Thrive, Owlicity directors Christopher Cloke Browne and Roger Houston discuss how functional medicine practices can fall into regulatory and negligence risk around “prescribing” and diagnosis.  As supplements become increasingly specialised in the area of functional medicine, they may still be regulated as food supplements, but a doctor’s recommendation can be treated by the GMC as a prescription and judged against medical standards even without a written script.  The discussion also covers risks when non-clinicians - particularly nutritionists - interpret results or suggest conditions like diabetes outside a clinical hierarchy, and the accountability of doctor-led practices for team actions.  They highlight patient expectations, commercial pressures, and the need for robust policies, procedures, documentation, and roles such as health coaches/patient advocates to guide patients and support compliance and defensibility. Episode time stamps 00:43 Prescribing challenges 02:47 Supplements become prescriptions 05:58 The shift in team roles and diagnosis 08:35 Complaints and commercial reality 10:15 Introducing the patient advocate model 14:02 Regulations vs practice 16:50 The value of audits and procedures 20:02 Scaling a compliant business Who are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

    Episode 25 - The 'Prescribing Risk' in functional medicine - how to overcome regulatory and negligence risks around prescribing and diagnosis

  8. Sep 9

    Episode 24 - AI in private healthcare - balancing automation with empathy with Adrian Richards, medical director iQonic

    In the fourth part of this four part series, Adrian Richards, medical director at iQonic Aesthetics returns to the Confidence to Thrive podcast to discuss with Owlicity directors, Christopher Cloke Browne and Roger Houston, how AI is already reshaping healthcare businesses and why practitioners must adopt it or risk falling behind.  He describes examples of “lights off” businesses run by bots and teams augmented with AI to increase output, while arguing that healthcare still needs humans for empathy and patient-facing work. At Iconic, AI is used for tasks like visual simulations and recording and analysing meetings to extract priorities, themes and team insights, alongside automating functions such as marketing, website and HR.  The group also highlights risks: AI can hallucinate, lacks conscience and grounding, and must be used carefully with strong “defence.” They connect this to changing work patterns and ADHD, concluding AI should handle repetitive tasks while humans focus on human work. Episode time stamps 00:00 AI in Healthcare Intro 03:03 Lights Off Bot Workforce 04:38 Humans vs Automation 05:54 How Iconic Uses AI 07:12 Call Centre Bots Replace Teams 11:02 Work Culture and Human Value 12:20 ADHD and Modern Work 13:48 AI Hallucinations and Trust 14:42 AI Needs Defense 14:47 Hallucinations and Trust 15:21 Deploying AI Responsibly 16:02 Grounding and Learning 17:19 ADHD and Human Strengths 18:01 Spotify Story Lesson 20:28 AI Plus Humans at Work 21:31 Insurance Partnership Advice Who are Owlicity? This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.  Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.  Learn more about how Owlicity can support here: Owlicity.co.uk  Call us on 0203 988 8090 Follow us on social media LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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Confidence to Thrive is a podcast built for practitioners and healthcare entrepreneurs who are doing something that matters - building innovative practices in functional medicine, aesthetics, integrative healthcare and mental health, while navigating the regulatory complexity that comes with it. 

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