Annie Phillips has written professionally about health and health management since she qualified as a speech and language therapist in 1978. She has over 20 years’ NHS experience in primary and secondary care as a clinician and manager., Her 10 years as a speech and language therapist led to the research and publication of an international dysphasia/dementia screening test, presented at the 1986 British Aphasiology Conference. She has won various prizes and awards for her subsequent work. and in the 1990s she was a finalist in Medeconomics’ Good Management Awards, and regional winner in a national British Institute of Management competition on ch ange management., She worked as a practice and fund manager for a five-partner training practice in central Brighton from 1989 to 1998; from then as an independent health advisor, trainer, and management consultant to general practice, PCG/Ts and health authorities., Throughout her career she has written extensively for the therapy, GP and management press. She currently writes on contemporary management issues for a range of publications, including the Health Service Journal, Community Care, Doctor, Primary Care Manager and Croner Publications, with a focus on healthcare politics and human resource management., As a management consultant, her interest is in organisational analysis and the development of healthy organisations, with a focus on finding ways to manage stresses and conflicts, understanding and alleviating dysfunctional communication and developing effective management strategies., Annie can be contacted via aphillips@cwcom.net or www.anniephillips.co.uk.