HSJ Health Check

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.

This week we take a look at two of the hottest topics in the NHS – productivity and technology.We’ll ask whether trusts really are getting more productive – and whether it’s fair to compare one to another.And this episode explores why health service leaders need to be keep their egos in check – but only when it comes to tech. With Henry Anderson, James Illman and Joe Talora.

The HSJ Health Check podcast is tracking development of the government’s planned Health Bill. This week we talk to Ian Dodge, who shaped several major pieces of NHS legislation as a national director at NHS England and the Department of Health.Mr Dodge reflects on the lessons that can be learned from two decades of NHS restructure Acts: They rarely succeed in transforming services, take longer and are more complex than thought, and open the door to a range of unpredictable challenges from outsiders and political opponents.We talk about where these attacks might come, and the dilemmas facing goverment itself about what to include. Mr Dodge says ministers have already missed the chance of sticking to a very slim piece of legislation, abolishing NHS England as straightforwardly as possible. “The 10-Year Plan blew that out of the water with a whole heap of things that the government decided to abolish,” he said. “Already this thing has ballooned.”On timing, NHSE is unlikely to be abolished until “sometime between 1 October 2027 or 1 April 2028… and it will take up a vast amount of time and effort.”Send views and questions to annabelle.collins@hsj.co.uk.You can listen to HSJ Health Check on this page, or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and all the other popular podcast platforms.

This week we discuss an exclusive story about a major expansion of cancer testing centres that will see the private sector take on a bigger role delivering NHS services.We’ll weigh up the success of the community diagnostic testing programme so far - and ask if one crucial factor could be holding it back. Also, an update on plans to launch a ‘single patient record’, following revelations that NHS England wants to launch a prototype by the end of the year.

This week two more integrated care board chief executives have quit, the latest in a string of resignations amid major changes to their role.We discuss what’s driving this leadership churn and also an update on the delayed redundancy scheme.And we reflect on Labour's first year in charge of the NHS, asking what drove the government to gamble on a major reorganisation of accountability.