Resetting Northern Ireland’s health and social care and lessons in leadership
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.
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Decision quality and the future of neighbourhood health: a US perspective
In this episode of Health on the Line, Matthew Taylor speaks with Al Mulley, professor of medicine and professor of health policy clinical practice at Dartmouth University, where he has led a programme dedicated to forging partnerships around the world to build the capabilities essential to achieving sustainable healthcare economies. Together, they discuss the issue of variation in both performance and activity within the healthcare system, emphasising that decision quality, meaning the thoughtful consideration of options, outcomes and patient preferences, is essential for building sustainable neighbourhood health systems. Drawing on his past experience, Mulley also shares a model of primary care that prioritises relational skills and listening capacity over traditional clinical hierarchies. In the context of the NHS’s push to implement neighbourhood health, he stresses the importance of cultural context and cultural intelligence, as well as emotional and social intelligence in clinical decision making. We also hear from Heather Moorhead, director of the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON), to hear about the challenges our members are facing in Northern Ireland and what NICON is doing to support them. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Standing firm in power and pride: celebrating Black History Month in the NHS
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.
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NHS league tables: how do performance rankings impact NHS trusts?
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.
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Ambulance services: the canary in the coalmine for NHS pressures
In this episode of Health on the Line, we dive deep into the challenges and future of the ambulance sector, often described as the ‘canary in the coalmine’ for NHS pressures. Host Matthew Taylor is joined by three leading voices in the field: Anna Parry, managing director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives Simon Weldon, chief executive of South East Coast Ambulance Service Dr John Martin, chief executive of South Western Ambulance Service Together, they explore the implications of the NHS's 10 Year Health Plan and the Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Plan for ambulance services. From digital integration and neighbourhood health to the evolving role of paramedics, this conversation highlights both the ambition and the complexity of transforming urgent care while "flying the plane" of daily service delivery. Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus.We also hear from Sarah Walter, director of the ICS Network at the NHS Confederation, to discuss the model region blueprint, a document that will set out how the English regions will be managed in the future and what that means for integrated care boards and providers alike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fresh perspectives on the healthcare challenges of our time and ways to confront them. Fortnightly interviews with movers and shakers making waves across health and care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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