The Health Foundation podcast 58: Alan Milburn on the 10-Year Health Plan
Aug 7, 2025
20:54
Is the government’s 10-Year Health Plan the medicine the NHS needs? We ask two former health secretaries.
In the second of two special episodes, we speak to Alan Milburn about the future of the NHS and his thoughts on the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. Alan was Secretary of State for Health from 1999 to 2003, during the Blair governments, with his tenure seeing the development of the NHS Plan (2000) and record levels of investment. As Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department of Health and Social Care, Alan also had a hand in writing and developing the new plan.
In conversation with our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon, Alan reflects on the key challenges facing the NHS today and why he believes the new plan sets the right direction of travel. But is the plan clear enough about how change will be delivered? How will the plan ensure the health service pulls in one direction across varying objectives and programmes? And will the pace of change be sufficient by the time of the next election?
Show notes
The Health Foundation (2020). Glaziers and window breakers. Former health secretaries in their own words.
The Health Foundation (2025). Jeremy Hunt on the 10-Year Health Plan.
The Health Foundation (2025). 10-year ‘Plan for Change’ or ‘plus ça change’?
The Health Foundation (2025). Neighbourhood health is the right ambition – but will the 10-year plan deliver?
The Health Foundation (2025). Dazed and confused? Policy ideas behind the 10-Year Health Plan.
In the second of two special episodes, we speak to Alan Milburn about the future of the NHS and his thoughts on the government’s 10-Year Health Plan. Alan was Secretary of State for Health from 1999 to 2003, during the Blair governments, with his tenure seeing the development of the NHS Plan (2000) and record levels of investment. As Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department of Health and Social Care, Alan also had a hand in writing and developing the new plan.
In conversation with our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon, Alan reflects on the key challenges facing the NHS today and why he believes the new plan sets the right direction of travel. But is the plan clear enough about how change will be delivered? How will the plan ensure the health service pulls in one direction across varying objectives and programmes? And will the pace of change be sufficient by the time of the next election?
Show notes
The Health Foundation (2020). Glaziers and window breakers. Former health secretaries in their own words.
The Health Foundation (2025). Jeremy Hunt on the 10-Year Health Plan.
The Health Foundation (2025). 10-year ‘Plan for Change’ or ‘plus ça change’?
The Health Foundation (2025). Neighbourhood health is the right ambition – but will the 10-year plan deliver?
The Health Foundation (2025). Dazed and confused? Policy ideas behind the 10-Year Health Plan.