24: Does a new Prime Minister signal change in health and social care? – with Rachel Wolf and Isabel Hardman

A new Prime Minister, government and health secretary, all facing a formidable array of challenges.

Prime Minister Liz Truss has said that putting the NHS ‘on a firm footing’ is one of her top three priorities (alongside the economy and energy). Meanwhile, Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey has said her priorities are ABCD (ambulances, backlog, care and doctors and dentists), and since the podcast recording she has set out the government's plans.

So how will this translate to the NHS, social care and improving the UK’s health? Will government have the bandwidth before an election to address more than the day-to-day pressures? And if a Truss government won a general election with a mandate to do more, what form would it take?

To discuss, our chief executive Dr Jennifer Dixon is joined by:

Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner at Public First. Rachel is also on the Board of the Centre for Policy Studies, co-authored the Conservative Party’s Election Manifesto in 2019 and was previously education and innovation adviser to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street. 

Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor at The Spectator. Isabel has authored two books – Why We Get the Wrong Politicians and The Natural Health Service – and is currently finishing a third on the NHS.

Show notes

Rachel Wolf, Public First, A few thoughts on the Downing Street policy unit

Rachel Wolf, Conservative Home, Truss’s in tray 3) Rachel Wolf: Levelling Up. There is no time for another new approach. The new Prime Minister must focus on delivery

Isabel Hardman, The Spectator, Is Coffey good for health? Thérèse Coffey is expected to become Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary. What's the significance?

Isabel Hardman, The Spectator, Can Liz Truss deliver, deliver, deliver?

Hugh Alderwick, Health policy priorities for the next prime minister: Avoid zombie policies and invest in growing the workforce and reducing inequalities. BMJ MJ 2022;378:o1726

The Health Foundation, Public perceptions of health and social care: what the new government should know

The Health Foundation, Waiting for NHS hospital care: the role of the independent sector