Service Manager, Community Diagnostic Centre, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

For Oliver Charman, the future of healthcare is not somewhere on the horizon — it is already happening in East Grinstead. As Service Manager for the Community Diagnostic Centre at Queen Victoria Hospital, Ollie leads the development of innovative diagnostic pathways that put patient access, experience, and outcomes first.

His background as a former resident doctor gives him a distinctive perspective. He  understands both the clinical realities and the operational levers that drive genuine transformation — and he brings those two worlds together every day.

“I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team that is actively reshaping healthcare delivery while keeping patients firmly at the centre of everything we do,” he says. “Our ambition is to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time, with the help of digital tools to improve this experience.”

A standout example of that ambition in action is the CDC’s new insomnia diagnostic pathway, launched in February 2026. Entirely digital, the pathway uses patient questionnaires, 14-day sleep diaries, and home-based diagnostic testing to enable clinicians to make well-informed decisions without patients needing to attend hospital. Automated communication on the day of referral gives patients immediate clarity on their next steps — reducing anxiety at what can be an uncertain time.

The early data tells a compelling story. Of 142 referrals accepted between February and April 2026, 36% were safely discharged back to their GP with specialist advice, 28% directed to home diagnostic testing, and 36% referred into the sleep service for further investigation. Waiting times have fallen dramatically: patients can now access specialist input in as little as three weeks, compared to the months-long waits that had become the norm.

“Our new insomnia pathway demonstrates how we can reduce unnecessary hospital visits while still providing timely specialist support,” Ollie explains. “It’s making care more accessible, responsive, and ultimately better for our patients.”

This is precisely the vision of the 10 Year Health Plan brought to life — care shifted from hospital to community, analogue processes replaced by smart digital tools, and timely specialist input preventing deterioration and supporting proactive management. With positive feedback already coming in and clear potential to extend this model across other pathways, Ollie and his team are showing what the next chapter of the NHS looks like.