Health On The Line

A critique sometimes levelled at parts of the NHS is that it suffers from a listening problem; that it talks a good game when it comes to community engagement, but does not always follow through. Yet in South London, a unique initiative is underway that challenges this notion. In this episode, Matthew Taylor is joined by Sir Norman Lamb and Matthew Bolton, who, together with a range of local partners, have spearheaded South London Listens – community engagement, but not as you know it. Discover more about the novel approach and why community engagement must be seen as part of how health and care truly deals with the wider determinants of health.Plus, with the NHS experiencing the tightest financial challenge in years, we speak to health and care finance expert Sally Gainsbury, for her take on the financial outlook facing the NHS. Weighing in on theefficiency targets facing NHS leaders, she shares why a healthy dose of realism is needed now more than ever.Sir Norman Lamb is chair of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and taskforce co-chair for South London ListensMatthew Bolton is executive director of Citizens UKSally Gainsbury is senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust

By the end of 2023, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust had made the most improvement on waiting lists for emergency care than any other trust in England. How did they do it? In this episode, Matthew Taylor sits down with the trust’s chief executive, Matthew Trainer, to find out more, and they get candid about leadership and improvement in testing times. Matthew details the challenges faced since taking up post in 2021 and how investment in management, staff engagement, primary and community care and digital transformation has supported the London trust’s improvement journey.Plus, with the results of the mayoral elections now in, Matthew Taylor unpacks why they matter to the NHS. He is joined by the NHS Confederation’s head of health economic partnerships, Michael Wood, who explains why metro mayors should be seen as ‘chief delivery officers’ and why the country is becoming more accustomed to devolution. 

Vaccinations are one of the most effective public health interventions, but what evidence is there of their economic and social value? Is there really a return on investment and what are the interlinks with health, work and prosperity? In this episode, Matthew Taylor put these questions, and more, to Lotte Steuten, deputy chief executive of the Office of Health Economics and Chris Thomas, head of the Health and Prosperity Commission at the IPPR, whose organisations have delved into the detail of these issues.Tune in for insights on the ROI to the economy and health service, implications on elective recovery, the impact of in-work sickness and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.Advisory note: A number of licenses have now been granted for vaccinations and immunisations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the UK.

With a general election looming, how does the public really feel about the NHS? And how are the main political parties responding? To scratch beneath the surface, Matthew Taylor sits down with Kate Duxbury and James Frayne to explore attitudes towards the health service. Delving into views on access, performance and staff and perceptions on waste, efficiency and spend, they consider where next for the NHS. Kate is a research director leading health policy research at Ipsos. James Frayne is a founding partner at Public First.

In this episode of Health on the Line, host Matthew Taylor takes a deep dive into the state of primary care in England with special guest Professor Aruna Garcea. As a leading figure in primary care and a practising GP, Professor Garcea offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. From increasing demand to the uncertainty surrounding funding and industrial action, they explore the complexities of sustaining quality care amid financial pressures. 

Dr Rachel Clarke was on the front line of the NHS’s response as the COVID virus swept across the country in early 2020. Her book, Breathtaking, which captures her experiences dealing with the pandemic has now been fictionalised in an ITV series. Matthew talks to Rachel about why she wrote the book and made the TV series, the sacrifices made by staff during the pandemic and the disconnect between the public reality of the pandemic and government policy at the time.

Vaccination is the second most effective public health policy after clean water, yet vaccination rates in the UK are falling. In this episode, Steve Russell, NHS England's chief delivery officer and national director for vaccinations and screening, debates why and how the recently published vaccination strategy has a unique opportunity to impact health gain. Sitting down with Matthew Taylor, they discuss why vaccination should be a national priority, how access can be improved through deeper community engagement, and how integrated care systems can overcome delivery challenges given their pivotal role.

Are systems set up to meet the needs of future generations? Is enough being done to act on the social determinants of health? In this episode, we hear five perspectives on these questions and get their take on why – and how – the relationship between the NHS, citizens and communities needs to change.Recorded at the ICS Network’s conference in November and chaired by Jacob Lant, chief executive of National Voices, the episode features:Haris Sultan, NExT Director programme and member West Yorkshire ICBOliver Coppard, Mayor, South YorkshireLeanora Volpe, Anchor Programme Lead at South East London ICSMarsha McAdam, Service User Representative and Vice-Chair, Mental Health Network.

People with a learning disability have poorer health and experience greater and persistent inequalities in health. So how can we shift the dial? In this episode, Dr Jane Padmore, chief executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, explores how reimagining the workforce, making better use of the voluntary sector and deepening understandings of learning disability, autism and neurodiversity can go some way. Jane, who is also chair of the Mental Health Network’s Learning Disability Forum, shares how a life-changing summer placement ignited a life-long passion that has shaped her career.