In Episode 89, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell dive into the urgent headlines shaping British healthcare. From the tragic Meningitis B outbreak in Kent to the "productivity paradox" of AI in hospitals, this episode strips back the politics to look at what actually works.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Meningitis B Outbreak: Why a "policy-created" vulnerability gap has left teenagers at risk and what needs to change in the UK’s vaccine strategy.
• AI in the NHS: Prof. Jenny Shand (UCL) joins us to debunk the hype. Does "ambient voice technology" actually save money, or just make doctors happier?
• Health as Wealth: Lord Bethell previews Patrick Vallance’s landmark speech on treating health as an economic growth engine.
• Early Cancer Detection: The truth behind the "Grail" blood test results and why the BMJ is sceptical.
• The Parkrun Phenomenon: Celebrating 10 million participants and Steve’s quest to break the 28-minute barrier.

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This episode is produced by Shortbread Media / Calum Macdonald.

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