From Sandhurst to scrubs: Military leadership lessons for healthcare

Leadership can be the difference between success and failure, on the battlefield or at the patient's bedside. As a former British Army officer turned NHS doctor, I have seen how the values taught at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - selfless commitment, leading by example and integrity - are just as vital on hospital wards as they are within the platoon. In this article, I reflect on how military leadership principles can strengthen clinical practice and improve cohesion within healthcare teams. As doctors, we are rigorously trained in clinical skills and knowledge but rarely in leadership. To deliver the best care, we must value and develop leadership behaviours as early as possible.