As we approach the NHS’s 75th birthday in July, we’re releasing a series of three podcast episodes setting out the big questions facing the health service.

This second episode explores the role of political leadership in addressing the big challenges in health care, whether political leadership is up to the task of getting the NHS to its 100th anniversary – and if not, how could it improve?

To discuss, our chief executive Dr Jennifer Dixon is joined by:

Alan Milburn, Labour MP for nearly 20 years to 2010. During the Blair government, Alan held a number of ministerial roles including Secretary of State for Health from 1999 to 2003. Alan currently serves as chair of the Social Mobility Foundation and Chancellor of Lancaster University.
Stephen Dorrell, Conservative MP for over three decades to 2015. Stephen served as Secretary of State for Health from 1995 until the 1997 general election, and as chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee from 2010 to 2014. Since leaving parliament, Stephen spent time as chair of NHS Confederation, and joined the Liberal Democrats.

Show notes

Institute for Government (2019) Becoming secretary of state
The Health Foundation (2020) Glaziers and window breakers: former health secretaries in their own words
The Health Foundation (2021) The most expensive breakfast in history

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