HSJ Health Check

This week on the podcast the HSJ team discuss government plans to invest a reported £100bn to expand covid testing, amid thousands of people being denied potentially life-saving cancer screening during the pandemic's peak - according to new statistics. We ask: Could the £100bn be better spent working through the cancer backlog? We also discuss confidential documents - accidentally published - which reveal one CCG's modelling for a second peak and the results of the latest ‘HSJ100’ power-list.

Autumn will bring pivotal funding decisions in the comprehensive spending review, while the NHS battles to "lock in" covid reforms, seek "near normal" capacity, and anticipate a surge in mental health demand. It must also brace itself for whatever coronavirus will bring next. Five HSJ correspondents explain what the next four months hold across finance, mental health, performance, technology, and the containment or resurgence of coronavirus.

This week our expert team discuss if coronavirus has been the catalyst for permanent reform of the Care Quality Commission, following comments made about the new ‘streamlined’ inspections by its chief executive in an exclusive interview with HSJ. We also discuss other aspects of the health service that may never revert to ‘normal’ and ask whether, in the face of major service reconfiguration, covid has threatened the social contract between patients and the NHS. Featuring James Illman, Annabelle Collins and Matt Discombe.

This week the team discuss the most tumultuous week in Public Health England’s history. Editor Alastair McLellan and correspondents Sharon Brennan and Jack Serle discuss what happened  to the embattled agency and where public health might land.

The new NHS People Plan accidentally implied that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer was a disability or long-term condition, sparking outcry. It has been corrected, and some have argued that criticism went too far, amounting to personal criticism of NHS England chief people office Prerana Issar, who has been working to change NHS culture and tackle discrimination. Meanwhile, NHS England has required new action on diversity and health inequalities from local NHS organisations, and a national lead says the NHS should hold its suppliers to account on leadership diversity, too. With HSJ’s Alastair McLellan, Nick Kituno and Dave West.

Is the NHS and local government set on a collision course, due to  changes around care assessments set out in new central guidance this  week? This week the podcast tackles this question and digs into what the  'phase 3' letter really means for the running of the health service.  Featuring Annabelle Collins, Sharon Brennan, James Illman and Ben  Clover. (This episode was re-uploaded on August 10)

Matt Hancock set out his post covid vision for health and care in a long, meandering speech this week – HSJ Health Check dissects key themes including staffing, emergency care, digital, system working and social care. With HSJ’s Dave West, Annabelle Collins, James Illman and Tom Norton.

This week the team dig into what’s going on in East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust – an organisation which has seen well over its fair share of covid-related deaths since the start of June. We discuss the leadership challenges faced by the trust over many years, its ongoing maternity scandal, and how its persisting battle with coronavirus doesn’t fit with the new national narrative of recovery. Featuring Alison Moore, Annabelle Collins and Alastair Mclellan.

This week HSJ Health Check conducts a deep dive on the experience of three regions all affected by the virus in different ways and recovering at different rates. Our expert journalists explore the prospects in the West Midlands, the North West and London over the next six months and what the sticking points might be. Featuring Annabelle Collins, Rebecca Thomas, Ben Clover and Lawrence Dunhill.

A government-commissioned review this week reported on intense suffering by hundreds of women which was “entirely avoidable, caused and compounded by failings in the health system itself”. This week’s HSJ Health Check looks at how and why these findings by Baroness Julia Cumberlege are being buried by the government and the NHS. With HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, quality and safety correspondent Matt Discombe, and deputy editor Dave West. Send feedback to dave.west@wilmingtonhealthcare.com