

HSJ Health Check
HSJ
HSJ Health Check: Weekly analysis of the biggest issues in health policy and leadership, from HSJ's expert journalists. The go to place for an independent, informed and immediate take on health and care news.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 17, 2020 • 32min
Off target: The four-hour standard and how long waits do harm
This week we talk waiting. The health secretary and NHS England run into problems with their moves to scrap the four-hour emergency department target – what are the concerns, and what’s the point of ditching it?
On the planned care waiting list – NHSE confirmed it has spent millions sending some patients to private providers this winter; and major long-term harm has been revealed from delays to ophthalmology follow-up checks.
How will the new government approach these major performance problems in hospital services?
Got feedback or something you would like us to discuss on HSJ Health Check? Contact dave.west@wilmingtonhealthcare.comor @davewwest.

Jan 10, 2020 • 35min
A&E, sexual assault on mental health wards and the future of primary care.
HSJ bureau chief Ben Clover talks to correspondents, Rebecca Thomas, Jack Serle and James Illman.
The team cover exclusive figures on the prevalence of sexual assault in mental health settings, the A&E crisis and what is happening with PCNs – part of the big plan for overhauling primary care.

Jan 3, 2020 • 35min
Why the 2020s are (a bit) better than the 2010s
In a podcast exclusive, HSJ editor Alastair McLellan reveals the 10 things which were most important to NHS policy and leadership in the 2010s.
And why can health service leaders look forward to the next few years with a bit more hope?
We explore this – and the big issues facing the NHS in 2020 – in this new year’s HSJ Health Check. Including the NHS People Plan, new NHS legislation, capital funding, and Simon Stevens staying a little longer.
Got feedback or something you would like us to discuss? Contact dave.west@wilmingtonhealthcare.comor @davewwest.

Dec 19, 2019 • 30min
What 2020 has in store: Tech, mental health and workforce
HSJ Health Check this week gazes into the crystal ball for predictions for 2020, focusing on three of the biggest issues in 2019: Tech, mental health, and staffing.
Featuring Dave West, Rebecca Thomas, Annabelle Collins and Nick Carding.

Dec 13, 2019 • 32min
What a Conservative majority means for the NHS
The general election results are in, and on this week’s HSJ Health Check the team gives our early analysis of what the Conservative majority government could mean for health and care policy and funding. Plus – the immediate issues on the NHS’s plate now the voting is out the way – including winter, Brexit, the NHS People Plan, and preparing for 2020-21.
Featuring HSJ deputy editor Dave West, senior correspondent James Illman, and correspondent Annabelle Collins.

Dec 6, 2019 • 33min
When noro and flu visit early
Listen to the HSJ Health Check podcast — this week we cover the national workforce modelling as revealed by HSJ, norovirus and the flu turn up early, and a Midlands trust lands an “outstanding” rating.
The latest episode features HSJ deputy editor Dave West, bureau chief for performance and efficiency Ben Clover, senior correspondent for performance and Brexit James Illman, and workforce correspondent Annabelle Collins.
We discuss:
What do we learn from the leaked national nursing workforce modelling revealed this week by Annabelle?
How’s winter shaping up for the NHS, and vice versa?
What’s unusual about South Warwickshire Foundation Trust’s new “outstanding” rating?
Got feedback or something you would like us to discuss? Contact dave.west@wilmingtonhealthcare.comor @davewwest.

Nov 29, 2019 • 30min
Have the politicians forgotten mental health?
This week’s HSJ Health Check is brought to you from the HSJ Mental Health Summit with special guests Sean Duggan, of the NHS Confederation, and Matthew Trainer – Oxleas Foundation Trust chief – joining HSJ correspondents Annabelle Collins and Rebecca Thomas. We discuss whether the politicians still care about mental health, given its low profile in the election campaign so far, and other top issues in the sector at the moment including whether more beds are really the answer.

Nov 25, 2019 • 31min
Election manifesto special
The political parties’ election manifestos are out, with lots to say about what they would do for health and social care. In this HSJ Health Check manifesto special, the HSJ team examines proposals from the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats – looking across the big themes of funding, workforce and reform. Taking part are HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, integration correspondent Sharon Brennan, and bureau chief for efficiency and performance Ben Clover.

Nov 21, 2019 • 30min
Pensions crisis latest
Whatever has happened to the trailed solution to the NHS pensions crisis? And what are the long-term consequences of doctors now discovering a work-life balance?
In other news, we discuss the Shrewsbury and Telford maternity care scandal, and the curious departure of an ex-private sector finance director from a long-strained London hospital trust.
Featuring HSJ deputy editor Dave West, workforce correspondent Annabelle Collins, bureau chief for finance and policy Lawrence Dunhill, and mental health correspondent Rebecca Thomas.

Nov 14, 2019 • 31min
‘Sane’ Labour’s plans for the NHS
This week’s HSJ Health Check discusses Labour’s big NHS announcements – and what they say about how it would manage the service. Plus the decision of Greater Manchester’s “devo” health and care chief to quit. With HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, deputy editor Dave West, correspondent Annabelle Collins, and bureau chief Lawrence Dunhill.