HSJ Health Check

It’s time for the HSJ team to take stock and make their predictions for what the New Year could bring for the NHS, from the survival of Healthwatch, to why the NHS App could be in for a tough year.Also, the biggest estates challenges facing trusts and why the ‘choice’ row is set to escalate. Thanks for listening to the Health Check podcast this year and Merry Christmas from all at HSJ.

Mark Dayan, Head of Public Affairs at the Nuffield Trust, and Sarah Reed, a Senior Fellow also with the Trust, dive into the implications of abolishing NHS England. They explore the potential for a government reset in NHS operations and warn that hefty headcount reductions could risk losing vital skills. The discussion highlights the need for a clear vision during reforms to avoid pitfalls seen in past changes while balancing local decision-making with essential national functions.

Join investigative health journalist James Illman, who reported on NHS waiting list clean-up, and health reporter Jack Sell, specializing in health policy. They discuss the impact of waiting list clean-ups on NHS targets, raising concerns over potential wrongful patient removals and data quality. Jack dives into a new UK–US deal that alters drug pricing thresholds, enabling costlier drug approvals, while addressing the implications for NHS budgets. A compelling conversation that exposes the complex balance between patient care and health policy.

Sir Jim Mackey is expected to end his tenure as ‘transition CEO’ of NHS England next year, so we ask what sort of candidate could be up for the “impossible” job of running the health service.  Also, we dig into what the budget means for the NHS, including how much the pot will be reduced by to pay for the massive redundancy programme.

In this episode, Ella Devereux, a Tech Bureau journalist with expertise in digital health, reveals shocking findings about the NHS App notifying patients of cancer diagnoses before clinicians do. Zoe Tidman, a Health Finance reporter, discusses NHS financial challenges, including changes to deficit support and pressing budget constraints faced by trusts. The conversation highlights the complex balance between patient autonomy in accessing medical data and the traditional role of clinicians in delivering sensitive information. It’s an enlightening look at the intersection of technology and healthcare finance.

NHS England has finally launched its much-delayed voluntary redundancy scheme so on this episode we cover everything we know so far and the questions that remain.Health secretary Wes Streeting also acknowledged this week in a speech to NHS leaders he has not resolved the redundancies quickly enough and that things had been particularly hard for integrated care boards.In the same speech, Mr Streeting revealed the eight trusts that are in line to become ‘advanced foundation trusts’ and “front runners to a more autonomous and integrated NHS”. 

This week the team look at what happens when the 2nd most stressful thing that can happen to a trust coincides with winter pressures. Plus NHS England's big ask from ICBs. This week's podcast is hosted by tech editor Ben Clover, standing in for Annabelle Collins, and he is joined by Joe Talora and Mimi Launder

Daniel Elkeles, CEO of NHS Providers and former leader in London's health services, discusses the new Medium Term Planning Framework. He reveals how this guidance aims to dismantle bureaucratic barriers while addressing tough performance targets. Elkeles emphasizes the challenges around integrating health organizations and reveals insights from his Epsom experience on reducing hospital admissions through neighborhood care. He also sheds light on the recent merger of NHS Providers with the NHS Confederation, highlighting future leadership opportunities.

Matt Mathers, a health reporter specializing in NHS trust investigations, and Ben Clover, a journalist focused on NHS technology, delve into the turmoil surrounding Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. They discuss the shocking maternity scandal and governance failures that prompted an independent inquiry. Mathers reveals the troubling timeline of when issues arose, while Clover explains a looming legal challenge in Liverpool that could reshape NHS digital strategy. Leadership turnover and the scrutiny of maternity services also highlight the complex landscape of healthcare accountability.

This week the HSJ Health Check podcast explores how Labour hopes a fundamental change in the relationship between patients and services can turn the NHS around.We’ll also ask whether the government has shot itself in the foot with its the ill-conceived pledge to abolish NHS England and slash staff at commissioning bodies.