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Health On The Line

The NHS Alliance
Health On The Line
Latest episode

115 episodes

  • Health On The Line

    Tackling the NHS productivity challenge and lessons from the Thirlwall Inquiry

    30/09/2026 | 42 mins.
    How can the NHS improve productivity, reduce pressure on services and deliver better patient care? And what can NHS leaders learn from the Thirlwall Inquiry into the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital?

    In this episode of Health on the Line, Adam Brimelow explores NHS productivity with Anita Charlesworth, senior economic adviser at the Health Foundation, and Professor Andy Hardy, chief executive of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

    They discuss Anita’s report for the NHS Productivity Commission, which proposes ways to unlock technology, empower NHS staff and increase capital investment with the potential to deliver £33 billion in annual savings and improve health outcomes.

    The episode also examines the Thirlwall Inquiry, which investigated failings surrounding the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The NHS Alliance’s chief executive Sir Ciarán Devane discusses what the inquiry means for NHS leadership, patient safety, accountability and safeguarding, and how NHS organisations can create cultures where staff feel confident to raise concerns.

    Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Health On The Line

    Why are ethnic minority leaders leaving the NHS?

    16/09/2026 | 43 mins.
    What will it take to make neighbourhood health a reality with no new money to achieve it, and why are ethnic minority leaders still leaving the NHS?

    In this latest episode of Health on the Line, Ruth Rankine, director of the NHS Alliance’s Primary Care Network, joins us to explore the practical challenges of shifting care from hospital to the community.

    The conversation explores how things from funding and contracts to culture, complexity and local decision-making will impact implementation of this key shift.

    We also hear from Lord Victor Adebowale and Sandra Buchan to discuss a new NHS Alliance report revealing the scale of racism, exclusion and inequity experienced by ethnic minority staff in the NHS. The duo examine how and why leaders need to take ownership of the inequality experienced by both staff and patients.

    Here you can learn more about the Tackling Inequalities Leadership Programme referenced in this episode and find out details about the Diversity in Health and Care Partners Programme.

    Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast produced by HealthCommsPlus.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Health On The Line

    Zero-hours reform: a bad deal for the NHS?

    02/09/2026 | 33 mins.
    Could government proposals on zero-hours contracts spell trouble for the NHS? Is there a way to strike a workable balance between workers’ rights, operational flexibility and patient care?

    Adam Brimelow is joined by Ben Morrin, chief executive of NHS Employers, and Hoa Ngo, the incoming chief executive officer of NHS Professionals, to discuss the implications of the proposed changes on the service.

    And Rebecca Gray, director of the NHS Alliance’s Mental Health Network, speaks to Adam about the rising demand for NHS ADHD and autism assessments, the challenges faced by healthcare providers and potential solutions, including national standards and broader systemic reforms.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Health On The Line

    Primary care at scale: does bigger mean better?

    19/08/2026 | 47 mins.
    Integrated primary care remains a critical focus for improving NHS patient outcomes. But how do we effectively bridge the gaps that often exist in traditional models? In this episode, Dr Duncan Gooch and Jim Austin, two senior leaders in Derbyshire health and care, discuss the success of the Team Up initiative, exploring how integrated care models can improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital admissions and foster strong partnerships across health and care sectors.

    And the urgency for social care reform is clear – following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's speech outlining his commitment to the sector, it seems to be moving to the top of the government’s agenda. But with less than three years until the next general election and a history of failed attempts, the stakes are high. Will it be different this time? To discuss the challenges ahead, Adam is joined by Natasha Curry, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust and Shane Devlin, chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire ICB and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB cluster.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Health On The Line

    Health On The Line: Teaser

    06/08/2026 | 0 mins.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Health On The Line
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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Health On The Line: Podcasts in Family