Prevention is the new cure

Steve & Sarah get together to discuss the Labour Party Conference after Steve's first visit to the party's annual gathering in Liverpool. They consider the health announcements made including a pay uplift for care workers and the new 'NHS Online' offer. And they're joined by Baroness Luciana Berger, from the conference, to hear all about a special new temporary select committee to consider the controversial Assisted Dying Bill before Parliament.You can find our podcast on all our social channels via our LinkTree page.And you can get in touch with ideas or feedback via podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah is away so Lord (James) Bethell joins Steve Brine as guest co-host. The pair reflect on the NHS Ten Year Plan two-months on, the return of provider league tables, the resignation of Claire Fuller as Director of Mental Health at NHSE and the government's junk food advertising ban.And they are joined by special guest, Alison Gardiner from Sleepstation to talk about their evidence-based digital care pathways for persistent sleep problems.This episode is sponsored by Sleepstation. In a single month, the service helps more NHS patients than the largest sleep clinics in England treat in an entire year, showing that safe, effective care can be delivered at scale - without losing the human touch that makes it meaningful. Find out more at www.sleepstation.org.ukYou can find our podcast on all the main social media channels via our LinkTree page and contact us at podcast@stevebrine.comPlease remember to 'Follow' our show and thank you so much for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Penny Dash, NHS England Chair, brings her wealth of experience from global healthcare systems to the discussion. She shares her journey from clinician to a leadership role, offering insights into the complexities of NHS management and the recent organizational changes. The talk highlights the shift towards community-focused health initiatives, addressing the inverse care law and challenges in healthcare infrastructure. Discussions also touch on the importance of integrated care models and the future of NHS IT as critical national infrastructure, all sprinkled with a playful call for a future beach catch-up.

Steve & Sarah are on their hols so Episode 65 is a special pre-recorded interview Steve did a few weeks back with Dr Andrew Murray from the Golf & Health Project.It’s a game Steve has played for over 40 years – and played with his late father including for a period after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.Steve and Andrew talk about the project, how it came about and the work it does to make the case for golf as a sport, a means of physical activity across the ages – and some of its other rather extraordinary – impacts on the lives of the people who play; not least as club in the bag of prevention ill health!Golf & Health ProjectGolf in SocietyYou can watch a short-film Steve made with Golf & Health, during his time as Public Health Minister in 2018, via You TubeThis episode's cover image shows (from left to right); Dr Andrew Murray, Professor Fiona Bull (WHO Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention), Steve Brine, Annika Sorenstam Major Champion and a global ambassador for golf and health), Martin Slumbers (then Chief Executive of The R&A) and Craig Tracey (then Chair of the All-Party Group on Golf) in Westminster at the International Congress on Golf & Health in 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Refsum, Director of Health Policy at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, discusses the transformative potential of the NHS App in healthcare delivery. She highlights the integration of patient records and compares the NHS’s digital capabilities to private sector innovations. The conversation also touches on groundbreaking obesity treatments and the ongoing challenges facing the NHS amid strikes and leadership changes. Additionally, Charlotte shares insights into drug education, safety at festivals, and global efforts to tackle plastic pollution.

For this week's big interview, Steve Brine and Dr Sarah Wollaston talk to Fiona Measham from "The Loop UK" about preventing drug deaths at UK festivals. Their aim is to reduce drug-related harm through healthcare interventions informed by research and drug checking at events - and in city centres. It's a fascinating glimpse into a little talked about aspect of health prevention.The Loop websiteArticle - The long and winding road to drug checking in the UKThe pair also talk about the imminent 'resident doctors' strike - which begins tomorrow for five days - and consider the ramifications for the NHS and the Ten Year Plan. And they discuss Gillian Leng's review of Physician and Anaesthetic Associates published this month.Leng ReviewThey also cover the Dash Review into patient safety and, in pod surgery, it's measles and how a new study from The Lancet says just 7,000 steps a day cuts health risks.You can find (and follow) us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and BlueSky and email us podcast@stevebrine.comThanks for listening! Next schedule episode drops on August 7 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the dust settles on the recently published NHS Ten Year Plan, the team sit down for a deep dive interview with one of the most high profile voices in health; Matthew Taylor who leads the NHS Confederation. They unpack the plan, its' strengths and weaknesses and where it should strike the balance between reform and recovery. And they touch on the resident doctors ballot from the BMA which will see five more strike days hit the NHS in England later this month.NHS ConfederationThe Parliament Matters Podcast Steve & Sarah discuss can be found - Parliament Matters.Feedback and comment very welcome - podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and now Bluesky via our PITNCpodcast | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special 'pod drop' episode, 24-hours after Ministers publish their much anticipated NHS Ten Year Plan. Steve and Sarah discuss what they've spotted among its 168 pages, what they like, what they don't like and look at some of the inherent risks to its success. Feedback welcome - podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very special episode recorded in front of a live audience at Cannabis Europa London on Tuesday June 24 2025. Steve and Sarah are joined by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Matt Hughes from the Medcan Family Foundation and Dr Diego Quattrone from King's College, London. The panel discuss the question 'Cannabis and the NHS: will the UK ever see cannabis readily and easily available?' Feedback welcome and we are of course happy to connect listeners with any of our guests - podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We return to the studio for Episode 59 and we're talking to Dr Kyle Stewart from Watercress Research about the fascinating work they are doing with watercress. Spoiler alert - it's more than you think! Sarah and Steve also look back at last week's NHS ConFed Expo (from where Steve and Helen Stokes-Lampard recorded a live episode), the possibility of new strikes across the NHS and health tech investment. And pod surgery returns looking at new arrangements for cervical cancer screening and recording your health procedures on your mobile phone! We love hearing from you so please get in touch via socials or podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.