An IPA Study Exploring the Lived Experiences of Operational Leaders Working in the NHS During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: COVID-19 (C19) has significantly impacted healthcare services and professionals in the NHS. There is currently limited research on the experiences of working as an operational leader – those leaders that plan and deliver required clinical services from a senior leadership position – since the onset of C19. Most of the literature focuses on the psychological wellbeing of patient-facing professionals and clinical leaders such as doctors and nurses. There is limited literature exploring operational leader experience, which this study will address. Aims: To capture the lived experiences of holding an operational leadership role in the NHS since C19 and to capture the lived experiences of operational leaders’ wellbeing during this time. Methods: Eight semi-structured interviews with NHS operational leaders were conducted. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith et al., 2022) was used to analyse the data. Results: Five Group Experiential Themes (GETs) and 17 group-level sub-themes were found. The findings highlighted operational leaders’ intrapersonal experiences (GET one: reacting to the power of a global pandemic) and experiences of working within a pressured NHS environment (GET two: exerting power within a powerful system). The findings also highlighted participants’ close working relationships (GET three: being protected and protecting within the NHS), experiences of navigating the UK public narratives of being an NHS ‘hero’ in relation to their roles (GET four: being a public NHS ‘hero’), and personal development and reconnection to what they value ‘post’ C19 (GET five: the nourishing and growing of the self). Discussion: The results are discussed in relation to the existing literature on other healthcare professionals since the onset of C19 and theoretical ideas in relation to workplace wellbeing. The implications for operational leaders’ wellbeing and ways of working during times of high pressure are discussed. The chapter closes with considerations of study strengths and limitations, and a conclusion.