The King's Fund podcast: Recent Episodes
The King's Fund
A podcast about big ideas in health and care. We talk with experts from The King’s Fund and beyond about the NHS, social care, and all things health policy and leadership. New episodes monthly.
Creating a plan is one thing. Implementing it is another. What are the realities of putting the 10 Year Health plan into action?
As implementation of the 10 Year Health Plan continues at pace, Andrew McCracken, Danielle Jefferies and Sarah Arnold discuss the challenges of putting the plan into action, the latest step in the creation of the government's neighbourhood health service and the introduction of new NHS trust league tables.
You might be interested in:
- What does it mean to have 'good' and 'bad' hospitals? (blog)
- A prevention revolution – or another missed opportunity? (blog)
- The King's Fund Annual conference 2025: courage, honesty and the future (event)
This episode was edited by Bespoken media.
Health inequalities are widening. Life expectancy is falling. Has the government's 10 Year Health Plan gone far enough when it comes to tackling these issues and preventing ill health?
Now the dust has settled after the publication of the 10 Year Health Plan, Andrew McCracken, Danielle Jefferies and Sarah Arnold discuss what’s happened since, the progress that’s been made so far and the pressure the plan is already under, as well as how staff and leaders in the system are feeling right now.
You might be interested in
- 10 Year Health Plan – what bold choices and actions are needed to deliver transformational change? (event)
- What impact do strikes have on the NHS? (blog)
- Time for bold action – making the shift to prevention (event)
- Fair pay in social care is a fine and progressive policy – but who is going to pay for it? (blog)
This episode was edited by Bespoken Media.
After months of waiting, the government’s 10 Year Health Plan is finally here. But with a health and care system at breaking point, does the government’s plan offer hope to staff, patients, and the public that things will get better? In this first episode in a new podcast series from The King's Fund, Siva Anandaciva, Charlotte Wickens and Sarah Arnold discuss what's in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, what it hopes to achieve and what we can expect to see in the coming weeks and months.
You might also be interested in: * Truly fit for the future? The 10 Year Health Plan Explained (long read) * 10 Year Health Plan - what bold choices and actions are needed to deliver transformational change? (event) * The King's Fund's response to the 10 Year Health Plan (press statement)
This episode was edited by Bespoken Media.
How connected are the health and faith sectors? And is there untapped potential in the faith sector to support people’s health and wellbeing?
Back in January, Siva Anandaciva sat down with the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, to explore her career journey from Chief Nursing Officer to Bishop, how her faith has informed her work, and the role that faith groups can play in tackling health inequalities.
Related content: * Tackling inequalities: mission possible? (in-person conference, 6 May 2025) * Tackling health inequalities: seven priorities for the NHS (long read) * What are health inequalities? (long read)
From corridor care to staff morale, winter is never an easy time for the NHS. But what is it like for staff working in urgent and emergency care during this time of year, and has it always been this way?
Ruth Robertson is joined by Kelly Ameneshoa, Emergency Medicine Doctor, and Charlotte Wickens, Policy Advisor, to find out. They discuss how winter impacts patient care, what could make this winter different to others and what the first few months of a Labour Government might tell us about its approach moving forward.
Related content: * The number of hospital beds (nutshell) * Public satisfaction with A&E at an all-time low: reflections of an A&E doctor (blog) * What does the Autumn Budget 2024 mean for health and care? (long read) * The government's 10-year plan for health and care (project)
What impact has the first 100 days of the new Labour government had on health and care? Join Andrew McCracken, Charlotte Wickens and Siva Anandaciva as they explore what's happened, what's surprised them and what might be next.
Related content
- Government will have to make tough choices at upcoming budget (press release)
- The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, delivered his first health and care speech since taking office at The King’s Fund annual conference this morning
- The Darzi review of NHS performance signals why radical change is needed (blog)
What is co-production? What does it mean to have a health and care system that prioritises equity, inclusion and the voices of service users?
In our new podcast episode, Jo Vigor is joined by Clenton Farquharson CBE, who shares his leadership journey and reflects on how his personal experience of navigating life as a wheelchair user has led him to a career advocating for marginalised voices and campaigning for meaningful change. He also explores why the new government should consider this moment as an opportunity to reimagine the health and care system.
Related content: * Listening to people and communities – the change we need (event) * The Darzi review of NHS performance signals why radical change is needed (blog) * Making patient experience a priority (blog)
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Professor Jason Leitch became a familiar name for many across Scotland seeking to make sense of the global health crisis and what that meant for their lives.
Siva Anandaciva is joined by the former National Clinical Director for the Scottish Government who shares what it was like navigating Covid-19 during a time of high pressure and uncertainty, the challenges of being a public figure and why leadership in a crisis can sometimes be a ‘lonely role’.
Related content:
- Free online leadership courses
- The King's Fund content related to public health
- Leading through Covid (project)
We're back to our usual programming after our election mini-series and this episode is all about social prescribing.
So what is social prescribing? How does it fit with other health and care services and what does it aim to achieve?
This episode explores the relationship between community and wellbeing, and how social prescribing can step in when traditional treatment isn't the answer.
In this episode host Siva Anandaciva sits down with Heather Henry, Queen's Nurse, writer and managing director of BreathChamps CIC and Edward Rosen, Project Director Lambeth GP Food Co-op to learn more.
Related content:
- What is social prescribing? (long read)
- How can social prescribing better support migrant women's health and wellbeing? (blog)
- Link workers for population health (blog)
In this episode Andrew McCracken and Siva Anandaciva are joined by our CEO Sarah Woolnough to discuss what the election result means for health and care, and what we might expect from the new government and new Health and Care Secretary.
This is our final episode of our election mini-series. We hope you've enjoyed reviewing the campaign activities with us, please share any feedback you might have to our X account @TheKingsFund or email us: website@kingsfund.org.uk.
Related resources:
- Is the NHS broken and what does that mean? (blog)
- The minister, the GP surgery and the signal of change (blog)
- General election 2024 (project)
A week before the election, Sally Warren, Siva Anandaciva and Dan Wellings sit down to talk about what the public want from the next government, how industrial action might disrupt plans to improve health care and the recent Dispatches episode, which revealed the harrowing human consequences of A&E performance pressures.
Plus, they answer a listener question on ways to approach delivering NHS improvement at a national and local level.
Related resources
- General election 2024
- What do the public want politicians to do about the NHS?
- Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023
- The King’s Fund comments on ongoing industrial action
- Making patient experience a priority
Andrew McCracken, Sally Warren and Siva Anandaciva discuss whether the sums add up in the main parties’ health and care pledges. The panel also explore what's been said about social care and answer this week's listener question: would a large majority in the House of Commons be bad for scrutiny of legislation?
Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email, X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund or LinkedIn.
Related reading
- How likely is a general election to transform health and social care?
- General election 2024: the health and care manifesto pledges
- ‘Topic avoidance’: how the main parties will avoid talking about social care at this general election
It's manifesto week and on this episode we're examining what the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Labour are pledging on health and care. Join Andrew McCracken, Beccy Baird and Siva Anandaciva as they analyse the manifesto commitments from the three largest parties and discuss whether what is being promised will be enough to deliver the transformative change the health and care system needs.
Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email, X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund or LinkedIn.
Related resources
- The King's Fund responds to the Liberal Democrats' manifesto
- The King's Fund responds to the Conservative Party's manifesto
- The King's Fund responds to the Labour Party's manifesto
- General election 2024 (project)
It’s been a busy week in the world of UK politics, we’ve seen pledges to boost NHS community services, progress the New Hospital Programme and reform social care by introducing free personal care. But what do these pledges really mean?
Join Andrew McCracken, Sally Warren and Siva Anandaciva as we delve into the Conservative Party’s plan to bolster community services and outline the debate on the health and care workforce so far. Plus, we answer a listener question: should we redefine what we count as ‘NHS’ or ‘health’ spend, and is there ever a case where ring-fencing budget is a good thing?
Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email, X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund or LinkedIn.
Related resources
- General election 2024: 28 days and counting
- The NHS budget and how it has changed (data explainer)
- ‘Topic avoidance’: how the main parties will avoid talking about social care at this general election
- Making care closer to home a reality (report)
How does the Labour Party plan to clear the NHS backlog? What public health initiatives might be mentioned in party proposals?
Join host Andrew McCracken, Assistant Director of External Affairs and King's Fund colleagues, Sally Warren and Saoirse Mallorie, as we delve into the key debates in health and care in the lead up to the 2024 general election. Plus, we answer a listener question: 'is it sensible for political parties to commit to performance targets for the NHS?'.
Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email (website@kingsfund.org.uk), LinkedIn or X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund and your question might be featured in one of our episodes.
The countdown to the 2024 UK general election is now on. Join Andrew McCracken, Assistant Director of External Affairs and colleagues here at The King’s Fund for our new election podcast series.
Over the next five weeks we'll be examining the key debates and exploring the big issues in health and care. We'll also be answering your listener questions and highlighting some of the important issues that are missing from the national debate. The first episode is coming soon, with new episodes dropping each week. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.
Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email (website@kingsfund.org.uk), LinkedIn or X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund and your question might be featured in one of our episodes.
Ruth Robertson sits down with Dr Waheed Arian, who shares his journey of leaving Afghanistan as a refugee, becoming an NHS doctor and founding two organisations which use technology to overcome barriers in health care. In this episode, Waheed delves into the importance of hope, compassion and mentors during times of adversity.
Related resources
- Digital health and care conference (in-person event)
- What is compassionate leadership? (explainer)
Ruth Robertson is joined by a panel of King's Fund experts to discuss the state of health and care in the context of a potential general election in 2024.
Between the British Social Attitudes survey, the NHS staff survey and performance data, we have a lot of information to give us a view of the current health and social care landscape. We also discuss what the data doesn't show us and the need for long-term strategies to solve the health and care crisis.
- Where services are at after the winter period (01:15)
- The Spring budget announcements (06:04)
- The need for long-term strategy (09:15)
- Connection between workforce and performance (11:50)
- NHS staff survey 2023 (13:52)
- Public views on the NHS (21:22)
- Recent action on public health interventions (26:04)
- Poverty and NHS services (28:17)
- Reasons to be hopeful (32:28)
Related content
- Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023: Results of the British Social Attitudes survey
- Beneath the surface: what does the 2023 NHS Staff Survey really tell us?
- The King's Fund's priorities for health and care at the next general election
How are community groups bridging some of the gaps between Black mothers and health and care services? What can the health and care system learn in response?
Siva Anandaciva speaks to Amanda Smith, founder and Chief Executive of Maternity Engagement Action CIC, Benash Nazmeen, Professor of Midwifery and co-founder and co-director of the Association of South Asian Midwives CIC, and Chrissy Brown, founder and Chief Executive of the Motivational Mums Club CIC, to find out.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, we've put together a list of organisations that can offer advice, information and support.
New year, new CEO for The King's Fund. In this episode host Jo Vigor sits down with Sarah Woolnough, who became our new chief executive at the end of 2023. Get to know Sarah as she shares her reflections on her career to date and the role of organisations like The King’s Fund in the health and care space.
In this episode, Ruth Robertson explores how the NHS elective care waiting list can be managed in a way that improves health equity with Dr Mark Ratnarajah, UK Managing Director at Precision Healthcare, Sharon Brennan, Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices and Dr Polly Mitchell, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Bioethics and Public Policy at King’s College London.
Related resources
- Tackling health inequalities on NHS waiting lists: learning from local case studies
- Waiting times for elective (non-urgent) treatment: referral to treatment (RTT)
What is anti-racism, and why is it important in the context of health and care? Jo Vigor sat down with Joy Warmington MBE, Chief Executive of the equalities and human rights charity brap, to find out. Joy explores the importance of forging genuine change beyond target setting and delves into her own journey of leading authentically and having the courage to do things differently.
Related resources
- Open Wounds exhibition: Tottenham Rights in collaboration with The King’s Fund (event)
- Our work on discrimination and issues of equality and diversity within the health and care workforce (topic page)
What does the future of health and care look like from the perspective of three young leaders, and how can they help to shape that future? Join Jo Vigor as she speaks to Hannah McCaffery, Registered Manager at Richmond Fellowship, Rini Jones, Senior Policy and Research Manager at Marie Curie and Beth Sutherland, Senior Project Manager in the National Ambulance Team at NHS England.
Related resource
- Those who dare: thinking differently about the health and care workforce (event)
How do you solve a problem like NHS workforce planning? Ruth Robertson speaks to Dr Navina Evans CBE about her leadership journey – from starting out as a psychiatrist, to becoming NHS England’s Chief Workforce and Training Education Officer – and the opportunities and challenges of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
Definitions of the acronyms used
- ELFT – East London NHS Foundation Trust
- ICBs – Integrated care boards
- ICPs – Integrated care partnerships
Related resources
- The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan explained (long read)
- Train, retain, reform: does the NHS Long Term Plan provide a coherent map for the future? (blog)
- The King's Fund annual conference 2023: A health and care service fit for now and for the future (event)
Join us as we mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS. In this episode, Jo Vigor chats with fellow colleagues from The King’s Fund, Danielle Jefferies and Siva Anandaciva, about how the NHS has changed in its history, and what we can learn from other health systems around the world.
Related resources * How does the NHS compare to the health care systems of other countries? (report) * The NHS then and now: a view from The King’s Fund’s archive (blog) * Reflecting on 75 years since the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush (project page) * Reflecting on 75 years of social care (project)
How can we ensure that health and care staff from all backgrounds feel respected, valued and listened to at work? Siva Anandaciva sits down with Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, to talk about the value of having a diverse workforce, and how we can make the health and care system fairer for staff, patients, and communities from ethnic minority groups.
Related resources * Those who dare: thinking differently about the health and care workforce (event) * Reflecting on 75 years since the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush (project page) * You called and we came: Windrush and the NHS (exhibition) * The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England (explainer)
Jo Vigor speaks to Karen and Yvette, a couple who beautifully demonstrate the varied and essential role that unpaid care work plays in many relationships. As they share their story we learn what support they currently receive, and what could make a positive difference. Later in the episode, Jo is joined by Deborah Fenney to talk about our recent research in this area.
Related resources * Caring in a complex world: perspectives from unpaid carers and the organisations that support them (report) * Community-led approaches to health and wellbeing (event)
What is it like to be leading during this difficult and uncertain period for the NHS? Ruth Robertson sits down with Dr Fay Gilder, Medical Director of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and Matthew Rice, one of our senior leadership consultants, to find out. Join us for a conversation about leadership, vulnerability and self-care.
Related resources * What is compassionate leadership? (long read) * The Circles programme speaker series (event) * The Circles programme: leadership development for women (course)
Anna Charles speaks to Hilary Cottam OBE, internationally acclaimed social entrepreneur and author of Radical Help, about the importance of building new systems that are equipped to deal with the health challenges of today, and the need to foster ‘horizontal’ bonds between communities and public services.
Related resources * Lessons from the Wigan Deal (project) * A citizen-led approach to health and care: Lessons from the Wigan Deal (report) * The pivot: changing our relationship with the health system (blog)
Is the NHS really full of ‘overpaid pen pushers’? Jo Vigor talks to Dr Seema Srivastava, Deputy Medical Director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Emma Challans-Rasool, Founder and Chair of the Proud2bOps operational network and Director of Organisational Development, Culture and Talent at Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System and Rachel Burnham, Director of Performance and Information at Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, about the critical role of NHS managers and what it means to bring your humanity to work.
Related resources
- Leading well for staff health and wellbeing in the NHS (free online course)
- Tenth annual leadership and workforce summit (event)
- What is compassionate leaderships? (explainer)
What can data tell us about the health of our nation, and the state of the system meant to help us get better, and stay healthy? In this episode, Siva Anandaciva sits down with chief data reporter at the Financial Times, John Burn-Murdoch.
Related resources
- The health policy year in review 2022
- What's in store for health and care in 2023?
Is it possible to tackle climate change without further widening health inequalities? Jo Vigor speaks to Dr Dominique Allwood, Chief Medical Officer at UCL Partners and Director of Population Health at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, about her leadership journey, why clarity of mission is so important and the challenge of creating a sustainable and equitable health and care system.
You can read the paper on anchor institutions mentioned by Dr Dominique Allwood in this episode on the Royal College of Physicians website.
Related resources * What are health inequalities? (Explainer) * Health inequalities - from evidence to action (Virtual conference) * Getting to grips with climate change: how can the NHS get to net zero? (Blog)
Anna Charles speaks to Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, Helen Barnard, Associate Director at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Marie Gabriel CBE, Chair of North East London Integrated Care System and Cormac Russell, Founding Director of Nurture Development, to find out how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting the nation’s health and wellbeing, and what the health and care system can do in response.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, we've put together a list of organisations that can offer advice, guidance and support.
Related resources
- Poverty and the health and care system: The role of data and partnership in bringing change (long read)
- Time for action on poverty: practical steps for the NHS and its partners (free online event)
- The NHS's role in tackling poverty (commissioned report)
Stafford Scott talks about taking a 'constructively awkward' approach to community activism, how the NHS can become a ‘national hearing service,’ and challenges the next generation of leaders to embed themselves in communities and bring people together.
Stafford is the Founder and Director of Tottenham Rights, a community-led initiative that addresses issues around social injustice and structural racial inequalities in Tottenham and beyond.
Related content
- Find out more about the Open Wounds exhibition.
What needs to happen to make sure everyone gets the care and support they need as they approach the end of their lives? Ruth Robertson speaks to Lesley Goodburn, Professor Bee Wee CBE, John Powell MBE and Angie Arnold to find out more.
Please note that this episode explores experiences of death and dying that may be distressing. If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcase, we've put together a list of organisations that can offer advice, information and support.
With special thanks to Lesley Goodburn for generously sharing her and her husband Seth's experiences with us. You can find out more about Lesley and Seth's story by watching Homeward Bound, a play that shares their journey from the first signs of Seth's illness, through diagnosis, care and treatment and after Seth's death.
Related resources
- Dying matters - which is why we need to deepen our understanding of end-of-life care (blog)
- The role of NHS commissioners in assuring the quality of end-of-life care for people who die at home (project)
What are the immediate health and care pressures the next Prime Minister will need to address once they're in post? Join host, Jo Vigor, and a panel of colleagues from The King's Fund: policy adviser, Charlotte Wickens; Head of Policy, Sally Warren and Senior Policy Fellow, Simon Bottery.
Please note, this episode was recorded on 26 August 2022, before the announcement of the new leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister.
Related resources
- Health and social care in England: tackling the myths (long read)
- The King's Fund annual conference 2022 (event)
- Odds stacked against it: how social care struggles to compete with supermarkets on pay (blog)
What are the immediate health and care pressures the next Prime Minister will need to address once they're in post? Join host, Jo Vigor, and a panel of colleagues from The King's Fund: policy adviser, Charlotte Wickens; Head of Policy, Sally Warren and Senior Policy Fellow, Simon Bottery.
Please note, this episode was recorded on 26 August 2022, before the announcement of the new leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister.
Related resources
- Health and social care in England: tackling the myths (long read)
- The King's Fund annual conference 2022 (event)
- Odds stacked against it: how social care struggles to compete with supermarkets on pay (blog)
What does it mean for public organisations to be ‘of a place’ and not just ‘in a place’? What’s the difference between ‘thin’ and ‘thick’ trust? New host Ruth Robertson talks with Professor Carolyn Wilkins OBE about leadership across local government and the NHS, cultivating a sense of a place, and how you can influence across local, regional and national levels.
Related resources
- Communities and health (report)
- Building collaborative leadership (course)
- Anchor institutions and how they can affect people's health (long read)
- Tenth annual leadership and workforce summit (event)
How does the health and care system respond when an asylum seeker, refugee or migrant arrives in England? Join host Siva Anandaciva and guests Dr Inês Campos Matos, Farisai Dzemwa and Kama Petruczenko as they discuss refugee and migrant health care.
This episode was recorded before the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 came into force on the 28 June.
Related resources:
- How does the NHS in England work and how is it changing? (animation)
- Time for action on poverty: practical steps for the NHS and it's partners (virtual conference)
From growing up in her parents’ community pharmacy to leading the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in general practice, Dr Nikki Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England and NHS Improvement, talks about the values at the heart of her leadership, the power of connection and community, and what general practice could look like for the next generation.
Related resources
- Take part our podcast survey
- Attend our in-person event on General practice: sharing the challenges and shaping the future
- Read our explainer article on What is compassionate leadership?
- Sign up for our free online course, An Introduction to Leading with Kindness and Compassion in Health and Social Care
The latest NHS Staff Survey results paint a sobering picture of a workforce under intense pressure. Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, speaks to Annie Laverty, Chief Experience Officer at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Steve Ned, Director of Workforce at Barnsley and Rotherham NHS Foundation Trusts, about the role of compassionate leadership in tackling the issues the survey highlights and the practical steps leaders at every level can take to support staff.
We want to hear from you! Take part in our podcast survey and you could be in with a chance of winning a free ticket to one of our virtual conferences in 2022.
Related resources:
- What is compassionate leadership? (explainer)
- An Introduction to Leading with Kindness and Compassion in Health and Social Care (free online course)
To mark International Women’s Day, host Helen McKenna speaks with Professor Dame Lesley Regan and Dr Janine Austin Clayton about women’s health journeys from start to finish. They explore why women can struggle to get medical professionals to listen to them and the impact this has on diagnosis and treatment, as well as the mental and physical effects on women themselves. Related resources: * The Women's Health Strategy: ensuring no women are left behind (blog) * Health inequalities: our position (The King's Fund's view) * What is the role of the NHS in tackling health inequalities? (Podcast)
Andrea Sutcliffe CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, talks with Helen McKenna about what it takes to cultivate safe, kind and effective care, getting regulation right, and what meaningful co-production with the public looks like.
Related resources:
- The courage of compassion: Supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care (report)
- Covid-19: why compassionate leadership matters in a crisis (blog)
- How does the health and care system hear from people and communities? (long read)
Please note: in the episode we introduce Andrea Sutcliffe as having been awarded an OBE. Andrea was awarded a CBE for services to adult social care in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List.
Join us as we take a look over the year that was in health and care, 2021. Helen McKenna and Siva Anandaciva, two of The King’s Fund’s leading policy experts, review the key themes of 2021; Covid-19, waiting times and performance, the reform agenda, funding and the workforce.
Related resources
- Our work on the legislative agenda for health and care reform (commentary and analysis)
- Integrated care systems explained: making sense of systems, places and neighbourhoods (explainer)
- The social care White Paper: not wrong, just not moving far enough in the right direction (blog)
- The NHS Staff Survey: working through Covid-19 and beyond (podcast)
The Health and Care Bill could lead to major changes in how health care is organised in England. But what is the Bill ultimately trying to achieve and how will it make a difference to the care we receive? Siva Anandaciva sits down with Richard Murray, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, and Dame Ruth Carnall, former Chief Executive of the NHS in London, to make sense of the Bill, how these changes will be implemented and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Related resources
- The Health and Care Bill: six key questions
- Integrated care systems: how will they work under the Health and Care Bill?
- What does the new Health and Care Bill mean for NHS financial management?
What are the risks of under-valuing unpaid carers? How can the health and care system better support them? Helen McKenna talks with Fatima Khan-Shah about her personal experience as a carer, her leadership journey, and the importance of being your authentic self at work. Fatima is Programme Director for Unpaid Carers and the Personalised Care Programme for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Integrated Care System.
Related resources * Self care and resilience during Covid-19: Fatima Khan-Shah * Why leaders need to include others in their decision-making: Fatima Khan-Shah * An introduction to leading with kindness and compassion in health and social care
The Covid-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the public health system and the people who work in it like never before. Helen McKenna sits down with Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health in Liverpool and Tracy Daszkiewicz, Deputy Director of Population Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, to explore what they’ve learnt from their experiences during the pandemic and, at a time of reform for public health and the wider health and care system, what the future holds for public health.
Related resources * Directors of public health and the Covid-19 pandemic: ‘A year like no other’ * The public health workforce: overdue for attention * Our work on the legislative agenda for health and care reform
People who identify as LGBTQ+ experience disproportionately worse health outcomes and have poorer experiences when accessing health services. Three years on from the Government’s LGBT action plan, Helen McKenna sat down with Dr Michael Brady, National Advisor for LGBT Health at NHS England, and Michelle Ross, Co-Founder and Director of Holistic Wellbeing services at cliniQ to explore the health inequalities LGBTQ+ people face and what needs to happen to make sure health services are inclusive.
Related resources
- What are health inequalities?
- Supporting LGBTQ+ NHS staff
- LGBT health: reading list
- Transgender health: reading list
Helen McKenna talks with Dr Bola Owolabi, Director of Health Inequalities at NHS England and NHS Improvement, about the NHS's spheres of influence, the power of gathering around a common cause, and whether the experience of the pandemic will lead to a step change in tackling health inequalities.
Related resources * What are health inequalities? * Health inequalities: our position * What is happening to life expectancy in England?
What does the future of care delivery look like? Anna Charles talks with Dr Steven Tierney from Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska, and Dr Henry Chung from Montefiore in New York, to explore how their health systems have transformed to better support local communities, and how to address digital exclusion in an increasingly digital world.
Related resources * Sign up: our mailing list on integrated care * Watch: Southcentral Foundation, Alaska: the role of established relationships during Covid-19 * Watch: Montefiore, New York: improving the health of deprived communities
Helen McKenna sits down with Suzie Bailey, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund and Professor Michael West to explore the results of the 2020 NHS staff survey and discuss how the NHS can create an inclusive, compassionate, and supportive working environment for staff.
Find out more
- Recovery and then renewal: the innovation imperative for health and care (blog)
- Looking after colleagues during the Covid-19 crisis: Michael West (video)
- Leading through Covid-19 (resources)
Helen McKenna speaks with Dr Nish Manek, a GP trainee and founder of the NextGen leadership programme, about her leadership journey, how she’s dealt with imposter syndrome, and the impact of Covid-19 on how we deliver primary care.
Find out more
- What enabled rapid digital change in primary care during the Covid-19 pandemic? (blog)
- Leadership in general practice during the Covid-19 pandemic: Dr Yasmin Razak GP (video)
- Leading through Covid-19 (resources)
What can the NHS do to meet the health needs of people sleeping rough? What was the inside story of the Everyone In initiative during Covid-19? And will the government end rough sleeping by 2024? Helen McKenna sits down with Dame Louise Casey, recent Chair of the Prime Minister’s Rough Sleeping Taskforce, Dr Caroline Shulman, a GP working in inclusion health, and Paul Atherton (FRSA), who shares his lived experience of homelessness.
Find out more * Delivering health and care for people who sleep rough: going above and beyond (report) * The road to renewal: five priorities for health and care (long read) * Covid-19, racism and the roots of health inequality (podcast)
Ian Ford and Sarah Murphy, producers for The King's Fund podcast, sit down to reveal the top three podcast episodes of the year and look ahead to what's coming up in 2021.
Helen McKenna sits down with Kate Jarman, Director of communications and corporate affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital and co-founder of Flex NHS to discuss what working flexibly means in practice, communicating during Covid-19 and activism in the health service.
Find out more
- Working 9 to 5: Poppy Jaman on mental health and the work-life balance
- Leading through Covid-19
- The digital revolution: eight technologies that will change health and care
Helen McKenna sits down with Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, to explore his approach to place-based leadership, the NHS’s role as a ‘place-shaper’ and the city’s experience of Covid-19.
Find out more * Healthy places: the link between your health and where you live * The role of cities in improving population health: international insights * What is population health?
Host Helen McKenna sits down with Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu to talk about what drew her to nursing, becoming the first Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia nurse specialist in the UK, and how to remain positive in the face of adversity.
Related reading * The courage of compassion: Supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care * Professor David Williams on racism, discrimination and the impact they have on health * Workforce race inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers
The Public Health England (PHE) review of disparities in risks and outcomes of Covid-19 showed that the pandemic followed the fault lines of existing inequalities and had a disproportionate impact on ethnic minority communities. So now that we know better, how can we do better?
Anna Charles spoke to Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for Public Health England London and Regional Director of Public Health for NHS London, to learn more about the findings of the PHE review, his career journey, and his hopes for health and wellbeing in London.
Please note that this episode was recorded on the 21 July, prior to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that Public Health England would be replaced by a new body, the National Institute for Health Protection. You can read our statement on this on our website.
Related reading
- Deaths from Covid-19 (coronavirus): how are they counted and what do they show?
- Covid-19, racism and the roots of health inequality
- Responding in a crisis: reflections of a director of public health
How is Covid-19 repeating patterns of existing health inequalities? What factors are driving the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on the health of ethnic minority populations? And what needs to happen next? Helen McKenna sits down with Natalie Creary, Programme Delivery Director at Black Thrive, and James Nazroo, Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester.
Related reading * Professor David Williams on racism, discrimination and the impact they have on health * Workforce race inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers * Time to speak up: some necessary words about racism
1 June marks the start of Volunteer’s Week 2020 and this year, it’s even more poignant given the critical role that volunteers have played in the response to Covid-19. Anna Charles sat down with Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Voluntary Service, to find out about volunteering during Covid-19, the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme and how we can ensure that widespread community engagement can last beyond the current crisis and into the long term.
Related reading * Capitalising on the offer of help – volunteering in the Covid-19 crisis * Find out more about volunteering with The Royal Voluntary Service * Volunteer placements, rights and expenses (Gov.uk)
What’s it like for clinicians working through the Covid-19 pandemic? And what really happened during the junior doctor dispute in 2015? Anna Charles talks with Dr Jeeves Wijesuriya, GP trainee and former chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee.
Related reading: * Managing your energy * Heroic leadership: the order of the day? * Leading through Covid-19
The 22 March marked the first 100 days of the new Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Helen McKenna sat down with Michelle Mitchell OBE, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Alex Thomas, a programme director at the Institute for Government, and Paul Corrigan CBE, former special adviser to two Secretaries of State for Health, and a former policy adviser to Tony Blair during his time as Prime Minister. Together, they explore what these first few months can tell us about the government’s intentions for health and care, as well as how – in this new political environment – organisations can influence and affect change.
Please note that this episode was recorded on the 10 March. Since then our world has changed dramatically; the Covid-19 outbreak has developed rapidly and has affected us all, but particularly our health and care systems and the incredible people who work in them. We are exploring how we can use future episodes to focus on the impact of the outbreak and the experience of the staff who are working tirelessly across the health and care system to help those affected.
Related reading
- Health and social care: the first 100 days of the new government
- What’s your problem, social care? The eight key areas for reform
- What are health inequalities?
Could prisons be an opportunity to address serious health inequalities? Or do they lead to worse health for people living in prison? Anna Charles explores the health and wellbeing of people living in prison, their access to health and care services, and what happens on release. She’s joined by Dr Jake Hard, Chair of the RCGP Secure Environments Group, Christina Marriott, CEO of Revolving Doors, Chantal Edge, Public Health registrar and NIHR research fellow, and Kate Morrissey, National Implementation Lead for RECONNECT at NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Related reading * What are health inequalities? * What is population health?
What is it like being the Chief Executive of The King’s Fund? Helen McKenna spoke with Richard Murray about his first year in the job, the role of think tanks, the new strategy for The King's Fund and his vision for the health and care system.
Related reading
- Our strategic priorities for 2020–24
- Looking ahead to 2020
- Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce
Helen McKenna sits down with Ian Ford and Sarah Murphy, the producers of The King's Fund podcast, to look back on their favourite podcast moments of 2019.
How do our life experiences shape our health? What can we do to tackle social inequalities? Helen McKenna spoke with Professor David Williams from Harvard University about his research into the social influences on health and the interventions that could make a difference.
Related reading
- Inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers
- 'We’re here and you’re there’: lived experiences of ethnic minority staff in the NHS
- Creating healthy places: perspectives from NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme
What are the main parties saying about health and social care in the general election debate? What comes next in delivering their manifesto pledges? Helen McKenna sits down with Sally Warren, Siva Anandaciva and Dave Buck from The King’s Fund.
Related reading
- What have the parties pledged on health and care?
- Back in the 'too difficult' box: social care and the manifestos
- General election 2019: our work on health and social care ahead of the election
What’s the scale of the challenge currently facing the NHS workforce? Prerana Issar sits down with Helen McKenna to discuss the NHS People Plan, her career journey, and what inspired her to take up her role as Chief People Officer for the NHS.
Related reading
- NHS workforce: our position
- Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce
- Compassionate and inclusive leadership
What role do the police play in responding to people in mental health crisis? Helen McKenna talks to Chief Constable Mark Collins, National Police Chief’s Council Lead for Mental Health, Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health and Marsha McAdam, an expert by experience and Co-Chair of the Greater Manchester Personality Disorder Strategy Group.
Related reading * Mental health: our position * Primary care networks and mental health * Empathy and understanding in mental health: the role of a peer support worker
How can we address the nursing workforce crisis? Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, sits down with Helen McKenna to talk about nursing, workforce pressures and her leadership journey.
Related reading * NHS workforce: our position * Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce * Brexit: the implications for health and social care
With the recent Conservative leadership contest and Boris Johnson’s inaugural speech as Prime Minister, social care funding reform is firmly back on the political agenda. In this episode, we look back at previous attempts at reform and explore why this has proved so challenging for successive governments. Helen McKenna speaks with Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE, Chair of the 2010/11 independent commission on the Funding of Care and Support, Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, and Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund.
Where are we with diabetes prevention and treatment in England? Helen McKenna sits down with Dr Partha Kar, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, to talk about progress so far, the NHS workforce, and his leadership journey.
Related reading * Closing the gap: Key areas for action on the health and care workforce * The prevention Green paper: the right time to put it in its place? * Five ways to improve junior doctor morale
What is it like working for Barack Obama and learning from NASA? What are the best and worst aspects of the NHS? Guest host Anna Charles sits down with Professor Don Berwick, President Emeritus at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to explore his career, the relationship between politics and health, and how to create joy in work.
Related content * Five myths about compassionate leadership * The NHS long-term plan explained * Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce
What’s the best way to tackle serious youth violence such as knife crime? What does a public health approach look like and does it work? Helen McKenna sits down with Karyn McCluskey, who pioneered this approach in Glasgow, and Martin Griffiths, Vascular/ Trauma Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Related reading * The role of cities in improving population health: international insights * A vision for population health: Towards a healthier future * Shared responsibility for health: the cultural change we need
If you or a loved one require advice, information or support relating to serious youth violence, the charities Victim Support and Childline have lots of resources on their websites and a helpline if you would like to speak to someone directly.
Who is responsible for our health and wellbeing? Helen McKenna talks with Professor Dame Sally Davies, as she prepares to move on from her role as Chief Medical Officer for England, about public health, her career, and the challenges of being a female clinical leader.
What can be done about race inequality in the NHS workforce? How can we ensure representative leadership happens? Helen McKenna talks with Yvonne Coghill, Director at NHS England Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES); Dionne Daniel, Project Lead, Nursing Workforce Remodelling Research Project; and Ben Morrin, Director of Workforce at University College London Hospitals.
Related reading * Diversity should be a strategic priority * Leadership in today's NHS: delivering the impossible * Closing the gap on BME representation
What should employers be doing to keep us well? And what language should we use when we talk about mental health? Poppy Jaman OBE, Chief Executive of City Mental Health Alliance, chats with Helen McKenna about mental health in the workplace, and shares her advice for future leaders.
Related reading * Leadership courses * Funding and staffing of NHS mental health providers: still waiting for parity * Bringing together physical and mental health: a new frontier for integrated care * Diversity should be a strategic priority
If you or a loved one require advice, information or support on any mental health issues, the charities Mind and Rethink have lots of resources on their websites and also have a helpline if you need to speak to someone.
Is the NHS inherently political? What are the biggest changes in health in the past 40 years? Helen McKenna talks with Professor Sir Chris Ham, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, about his career so far, health policy and what makes a good leader.
Related reading * A vision for population health * A year of integrated care systems: the journey so far * Delivering integrated care: learning from experience
How good is care in the NHS and social care system? What does a hospital inspection actually look like? We talk about quality of care and regulation with Chris Day, Director of Engagement at the CQC, and Ruth Robertson and Simon Bottery from The King’s Fund.
Related reading * Impact of the Care Quality Commission on provider performance: room for improvement? * CQC's State of Care report * CQC, the state of care and system-level regulation * What is social care and how does it work?
Does the NHS work for those who need it most? What does it really mean to lead a system? Helen McKenna sits down with Lord Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive of Turning Point.
What’s the relationship between your health and where you live? How do we make places healthier? Helen McKenna talks with Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health at Wigan Council, André Pinto, Public Health Manager from Public Health England and Chris Naylor, Senior Fellow from The King's Fund.
As the NHS turns 70, what state is it in? What will it look like in another 70 years? Helen McKenna talks about how the NHS is changing with Don Berwick, International Visiting Fellow at The King’s Fund, Ceinwen Giles, Founding Director at Shine Cancer Support and Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst at The King’s Fund.
Related reading:
- The NHS at 70
- The public and the NHS: what's the deal?
- How can the NHS work effectively with patients and the public?
Is there a glass ceiling for women in health and care? What should be done about it? Following the recent debate about the gender pay gap, Helen McKenna talks about leadership and gender in the NHS with Jane Dacre, President of the Royal College of Physicians, Anne-Marie Archard, Director of the London Leadership Academy, Sam Jones, former Director of the New Care Models programme at NHS England, and Deborah Ward, Senior Analyst at The King's Fund.
Does winter ever end for the NHS these days? Helen McKenna talks about winter pressures in A&E with Siva Anandaciva and Matthew Kershaw from The King's Fund. Hong-Anh Nguyen reveals the most unusual question The King's Fund library service has ever received.
Do we expect too much – or too little – from the NHS? Should taxes increase to fix its problems? Helen McKenna talks about public satisfaction with the NHS with Ruth Robertson and Dan Wellings from The King’s Fund. Leo Ewbank gazes into his crystal ball to look at what’s coming up in health in the month ahead.