In this episode of The Health Change Makers, Jenny speaks with politician Baroness Margaret Ritchie. They discuss Margaret's extensive political career, her personal journey with breast cancer and her perspectives on resilience and the need for expert advice in policy-making. Margaret also shares her views on the importance of vaccination programs and the potential for their expansion in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she touches on her experiences as the first female leader of a major political party in Northern Ireland and offers advice for those seeking to effect change in their own spheres.

(0:43) Introduction
(4:36) What drives Margaret?
(7:55) A Turning Point
(13:19) Margaret's battle with breast cancer
(23:12) Building Resilience in the NHS
(27:34) Looking to the Future

About the guest:
Baroness Margaret Ritchie was previously leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP. She has been a Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive. She also has done a lot of change-making in healthcare over the years, both from the perspective of an advocate, and the perspective of a patient herself having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. Margaret is also the Allergy UK's parliamentary champion and has also done a lot of work pressing for improvements in vaccinations.

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