Independent Healthcare Advisory
Clinically credible, system-ready change.
Independent senior advice for organisations making high-stakes decisions about healthcare innovation. Relevant interests declared before engagement.
Felipe Castro Cardona RM FRCM
Founder & Principal Adviser · Former National Head of Midwifery Clinical Workforce, NHS England
LondonAdvisory in English & Spanish
- 22+ years in the NHS
- NMC-registered
- Fellow, Royal College of Midwives
- NICE Institute experience
- Former national lead, NHS England midwifery workforce
Services
Where I am most useful.
Four practices, one remit: making innovation land safely in real clinical settings.
Maternity, Neonatal and Women's Health Advisory
Specialist counsel on pathways, safe staffing, workforce models and service design.
Where it shows up
- Safe-staffing and workforce reviews
- Service and pathway redesign
- Board-ready options appraisals
Life Sciences and Immunisation Advisory
Independent clinical and policy insight for medical affairs, market access and immunisation teams. Independent judgement, with relevant interests declared before engagement.
Where it shows up
- Advisory boards and medical affairs briefings
- Implementation risk and adoption-readiness reviews
- Independent counsel, interests declared
Strategic Advisory, System Readiness and Safe Adoption
Senior counsel on transformation, regulation, digital health and safe AI adoption in complex clinical environments.
Where it shows up
- Readiness and clinical credibility reviews
- Safe AI adoption and governance advice
- Senior advice for SROs and executive sponsors
Tailored Expert Input
Advisory boards, expert panels, keynotes, chaired or facilitated roundtables and internal briefings.
Where it shows up
- Keynotes, panels and chaired roundtables
- Internal briefings and problem framing
- Delivered in English or Spanish
What we see
Why clinical change stalls.
Three patterns show up in almost every stalled programme:
- Innovation designed without the people delivering it.
- Pilots that succeed, programmes that scale poorly.
- AI judged on accuracy, not accountability.
Castro Healthcare Consulting is an independent advisory practice led by Felipe Castro Cardona RM FRCM, former National Head of Midwifery Clinical Workforce at NHS England. It helps healthcare organisations, life-sciences teams and health-technology companies make innovation land safely in real clinical settings. Advisory is offered in English and Spanish.
Led by
Felipe Castro Cardona RM FRCM
Founder & Principal Adviser
More than two decades of clinical, operational and national leadership across nursing, midwifery and public health. Advises boards, executive teams, life-sciences partners and health-tech companies on the questions that decide whether change will land safely at the front line.
He has held the national brief and worked the shifts — fluent in both rooms — so his advice survives contact with reality.
Career Arc — 22+ years, front line to national brief
- 2003Front lineCritical Care Nurse
- 2014Clinical leadershipConsultant Midwife, Barts Health
- 2021National policyNational Head of Midwifery Clinical Workforce, NHS England
- 2026AdvisoryFounder & Principal Adviser, Castro Healthcare Consulting
Testimonials
What colleagues say.
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Jess Read
Former Deputy Chief Midwifery Officer, NHS England
View on LinkedInHis leadership skills include an ability to work strategically across a political landscape, influence policy, and navigate difficult aspects of programme delivery to ensure the right outcome.
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Professor Shakila Thangaratinam
Dean, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool; Vice President International, Academy of Medical Sciences
View on LinkedInBrilliant and passionate clinical colleague and researcher. It has been a pleasure working with Felipe, who has a positive and uplifting attitude.
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Nafiza Anwar MBE
Director and Co-Founder, Association of South Asian Midwives CIC; Maternal and Women's Health Inequalities Advocate, NHS North East London
View on LinkedInFelipe drives impactful changes in healthcare regulation, strategic planning, reducing healthcare inequalities, and enhancing quality improvement at local, national, and international levels.
Verbatim from LinkedIn recommendations. Further references available on request.
En español
Asesoría en español
Castro Healthcare Consulting es una consultora independiente dirigida por Felipe Castro Cardona RM FRCM, ex jefe nacional del personal clínico de matronas en NHS England. Ayuda a organizaciones sanitarias, equipos de ciencias de la salud y empresas de biotecnología a implantar la innovación de forma segura en entornos clínicos reales. Asesoría disponible en inglés y español.
An introductory conversation.
Thirty minutes, no commitment. The right forum for advisory scope, speaking invitations and confidential briefings.
Every enquiry is answered personally, usually within two working days.