HSJ Health Check

Three national NHS England directors have announced their departures over the last few days, so on this week’s episode we discuss why this is significant and the impact it could have on future policy making. Also, cancer performance in England is said to be hitting “new lows” and we discuss which specialties are struggling the most and why hidden referrals could be even more of a worry over the coming months.

This week we discuss the politics around the elective recovery plan, following suggestions it could be announced imminently to distract from the goings on at Number 10. We also cover the prospect of ‘academy-style’ trusts and ask whether comments briefed to The Times signal genuine intention or just a spot of kite-flying. Plus an update on how staff mandatory vaccination is progressing, with just two weeks to go until the deadline. Featuring James Illman, Dave West and Annabelle Collins.

NHS trusts will soon be forced to redeploy or dismiss staff members who have not had their covid jab and this week we discuss what this could mean for the safe running of the health service. We focus on a London trust, which has warned its maternity service could be threatened by the dismissal of unvaccinated midwives. Also this week we discuss the latest NHS operational and performance data.

On this week’s HSJ podcast, we explain what the latest planning guidance from NHS England – published over Christmas – means for the service and its patients. The planning guidance sets out how the NHS’s money will be used and what the service will be asked to provide in 2022-23. HSJ’s Annabelle Collins, James Illman and Dave West translate the key themes on this week’s HSJ Health Check.

In the final episode of the year, we make our predictions for what 2022 could hold for the health service, including staff vaccination woes, spades in the ground for some ‘new hospitals’ and further delays for ICSs. Featuring Annabelle Collins, Nick Carding, Dave West and guest Rebecca Thomas from The Independent.

Record covid cases are being recorded and the NHS must decide how to prepare for another potential wave in late December or January. We discuss what chief execs are doing right now to keep services afloat and as many staff working as safely possible. Also notable points from recent government briefings and an update on the operational challenges facing the booster campaign.

This week we dig into the latest NHS performance data, including the first detailed snapshot into how the NHS is coping this winter. The figures reveal performance has never been worse and we discuss the severe harm this is having on the public, with trusts warning its becoming unavoidable. Featuring Ben Clover, Annabelle Collins, Matt Discombe and Alison Moore.

NHS staff are facing the prospect of another difficult winter. The Omicron variant, an accelerated booster campaign and expectations of elective recovery will be an immense challenge for a completely exhausted workforce. We discuss how staff and leaders will cope. Also, an update on who will be leading the new integrated care systems and why some key systems have still failed to recruit.

This week the HSJ Health Check podcast hears how Number 10’s mission to integrate health and social care services has ramped up with some contentious thoughts, and discuss the NHS’ overall progress in its move towards integrated care systems. Integrating health and social care is a famously difficult task. Now, it seems, Boris Johnson himself wants to clarify local accountability for this.  We discuss the implications of this latest intervention. We also consider what the terms of reference for the Messenger Review mean for the NHS leadership community, and we explore the strange story of a hospital charity which is not distributing much of the money it has raised. Featuring Nick Carding, Dave West and Alison Moore. 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. Send feedback to nicholas.carding@wilmingtonhealthcare.com.

We hear what NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard and health secretary Sajid Javid had to say ahead of what everyone is describing as the NHS’ toughest winter, and discuss the implications of the news that Health Education England will be merged with NHS England. Featuring Nick Carding, Jasmine Rapson and Lawrence Dunhill. 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. Send feedback to nicholas.carding@wilmingtonhealthcare.com.