Health On The Line

In this episode of Health on the Line, host Matthew Taylor is joined by Professor Sir Mike Richards, chair of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and one of the most influential figures in modern NHS leadership. Sir Mike reflects on his first year as CQC chair, the challenges of rebuilding confidence in regulation, and how inspection and assessment can better support improvement across health and social care.  The conversation explores CQC reform, defining what good looks like, regulating across systems rather than silos, and the future of integrated and neighbourhood-based care. Matthew and Sir Mike also discuss early diagnosis and screening, lessons from cancer care, the importance of outcomes and culture, and what it will take for regulation to keep pace with the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flu season arrived early in the UK this year, fuelling concerns that the NHS would face unprecedented strain over the winter months. Coupled with junior doctor strikes in the run up to Christmas, many feared the system could be pushed to breaking point. Yet, so far at least, the NHS has managed to stay afloat. In this episode of Health on the Line, Matthew Taylor is joined by Nick Hulme, the departing chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, to explore how the service is really coping this winter. With 46 years of experience in the NHS, from starting out as an A&E porter to leading hospital trusts, Hulme offers a rare perspective on what’s working, what’s changed and where the biggest challenges remain. Hulme reflects on the unexpected impact of junior doctor strikes, describing how they acted as a “firebreak” before Christmas, with consultants on duty able to discharge patients more quickly and reduce admissions at the front door. He also urges national leaders to ease off constant structural reform, arguing instead for giving trusts the space to implement what evidence already shows works. We also hear from Antony Tucker, NHS Confederation’s policy advisor for out-of-hospital care, who shares insights from ambulance service leaders on how they’ve coped so far this winter. Penny Pereira, director of Q community, also joins the conversation to discuss how collaborative improvement across the NHS is evolving as Q community finds a new home at the NHS Confederation. Health on the Line is the NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Health on the Line tackles the issue of worsening health inequalities across the UK and the urgent action required to address them.  With the theme of tackling these disparities running throughout the government’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan, there is an opportunity now to realign healthcare with this goal.  To discuss the topic in relation to respiratory disease and vaccine preventable diseases, Matthew Taylor is joined by Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, and Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now. The trio explore how community-based respiratory programmes can improve early diagnosis and treatment access, while expanding vaccine cohorts and raising awareness can help increase coverage against vaccine-preventable disease.  They also consider what kind of practical approaches can help bridge gaps to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities more broadly across the healthcare system.  Matthew is also joined by Sonia Nosheen, assistant director for the Acute Network at the NHS Confederation, to hear about the Confederation’s work supporting members in the area of ophthalmology. The new programme aims to help members deliver care closer to where patients live and work. This episode is non-promotional, sponsored by GSK and developed in partnership with the NHS Confederation. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matthew Taylor is joined by Anita Charlesworth, senior economic adviser at the Health Foundation and Lee Outhwaite, chief financial officer of South Yorkshire ICB and President of the HFMA, to tease out the health sector implications of the Autumn Budget.   Together, they discuss measures intended to improve population health, such as scrapping the two-child benefit cap, increasing the gambling tax and extending the sugar levy, and reflect on funding earmarked for neighbourhood health hubs.  They also weigh in on other challenges facing the NHS, including productivity, the need for more incisive healthcare solutions and why long-term planning is needed to improve health outcomes.  Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of Health on the Line, Matthew Taylor is joined by former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield. They discuss the thorny issue of ill health pushing millions of Britons out of work, and what can be done to tackle it.Mayfield’s recently published government review, which addresses the issue of worklessness and laying out some of the measures needed to deal with the problem, includes a greater role for employers in supporting the health of staff.The conversation explores why economic inactivity due to poor health has surged post COVID-19, and what this means for individuals, employers, and the UK economy. They also touch on how supportive workplaces can keep people healthy, engaged, and in work, to the benefit of everyone.According to Mayfield, the solution isn’t just about the NHS or personal responsibility. Instead, his report calls for a new partnership between employers, individuals and health services to focus on prevention and early intervention.We also hear from Sarah Walter, director of our ICS Network and interim deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, to discuss the latest state of ICSs report. The report found that while four in five ICS leaders are confident their system can fulfil their four core purposes, they also believe NHS reorganisation has created a significant distraction and barrier to systems' progress.Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of Health on the Line, host Matthew Taylor is joined by interim permanent secretary for the Department of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland and former NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar. Together the pair discuss the ambitions of the reset plan for health and social care in Northern Ireland published in July this year. They also touch on the importance of empowering chief executives to act as partners in health care delivery.  Farrar stresses that finding new ways to engage and empower the public to improve their health is vital to successfully implementing the neighbourhood health model.  We also hear from Rebecca Gale, assistant director of the Primary Care Network at the NHS Confederation, to discuss issues relating the lack of availability of NHS dental care in parts of the UK. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast produced by HealthCommsPlus.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful discussion, Al Mulley, a professor specializing in healthcare delivery science, and Heather Moorhead, director of NICON, tackle pressing topics in healthcare. They highlight the importance of decision quality in developing sustainable neighborhood health systems. Mulley emphasizes the need for relational skills over clinical hierarchy and discusses how engaging patients can reduce unnecessary treatments. Moorhead shares insights on Northern Ireland's healthcare challenges and the importance of collaboration to enhance community health.

In this episode of Health on the Line, we mark the beginning of Black History Month with a timely conversation featuring two long time champions of diversity in the NHS: Dame Professor Robina Shah, consultant chartered psychologist and Professor of medical education and psycho-social medicine at the University of Manchester, and Joan Saddler OBE, director of partnerships and equality at the NHS Confederation.Against a backdrop of rising reports of abuse and discrimination faced by black and minority ethnic NHS staff, this episode explores the theme of this year’s celebration: standing firm in power and pride.Dame Professor Shah reflects on her decades of leadership in the NHS and beyond, sharing personal experiences of being one of the few people of colour in senior roles and the resilience it takes to lead with dignity and purpose.Joan Saddler brings her deep expertise in equality and public engagement to the discussion, highlighting the importance of collective action and the NHS’s ongoing commitment to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Health on the Line, host Matthew Taylor is joined by two NHS Confederation colleagues Rebecca Gray, director of the Mental Health Network, and Rory Deighton, director of the Acute Network, to unpack the reintroduction of NHS league tables and their implications for NHS trusts.The trio discuss the intended role of league tables in driving improvement and accountability with the caveat that they also carry risks, particularly when misinterpreted or used to name and shame providers. The group discusses how misleading headlines and lack of context can undermine public trust and demoralise frontline staff.Together, the guests consider how league tables must be designed and communicated with care, ensuring they reflect what truly matters to patients and avoid unintended consequences. With winter pressures looming and leadership under scrutiny, this episode calls for a more intelligent, balanced debate about performance, accountability, quality data and NHS oversight.The conversation also touches on the seismic news of ‘fearless’ Claire Murdoch’s resignation as NHS England’s national director for mental health. Rebecca Gray reflects on Murdoch’s legacy, describing her as “a phenomenal force” and someone who consistently challenged the system to ensure mental health remained a national priority. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging discussion, Anna Parry, Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, Simon Weldon, Chief Executive of South East Coast Ambulance Service, John Martin, Chief Executive of South Western Ambulance Service, and Sarah Walter from the NHS Confederation tackle the pressing challenges of the ambulance sector. They delve into the implications of the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan, the need for digital integration, and innovative care models aimed at improving community health, all while addressing critical winter challenges for urgent care.