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.

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two big questions of the moment: can the NHS handle future heatwaves and will Andy Burnham’s premiership spell positive change for the service?  

In this episode of Health on the Line, Adam Brimelow dives into the significant shifts in health leadership under prime minister Andy Burnham. With Yvette Cooper stepping in as the new secretary of state, Burnham is set on a transformative agenda for health and social care.  But can he deliver? To find out, Adam’s joined by Mark Fisher, former chief executive of Greater Manchester ICB and Jane Merrick, policy editor at The i newspaper.  

And the NHS is feeling it this summer with heatwaves putting enormous pressure on services. It’s clear that proactive summer and heatwave planning are crucial for healthcare systems – so, as our summers continue getting hotter, how can the NHS get it right? To explore the challenges, Adam caught up with Matthew Hopkins, Acute and Ambulance Network director at the NHS Alliance and Dr John Martin, chief executive at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: this episode contains references to suicide.  

In the fast-evolving landscape of health and care, effective leadership is paramount. In this episode, Adam Brimelow is joined by Ed Smith, chair of the NHS College of Leadership and Management, who shares invaluable insights into why leadership is crucial for the NHS and how the newly formed college aims to enhance leadership capabilities across the sector. 

And in the realm of mental health, ensuring that patients have a voice in their treatment is crucial. This is where the plan for advanced choice documents (ACDs) come into play. Adam catches up with Sarah Holloway, chief executive of The Maudsley Charity, and Steve Gilbert OBE, lived experience consultant and chair of the Mental Health Advisory Group of the NHS Race and Health Observatory to explore what ACDs are, their significance in mental health care, and how they are poised to make a difference, especially for marginalised communities. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the foundation trust model faces proposed changes, many are concerned about how to retain accountability and local democracy in health and care. The suggested shift to more centralised control by the Secretary of State raises questions about autonomy and the future of local decision-making.  It’s a big change that could affect how care is delivered and who gets to make those critical decisions. Are we sacrificing local input for a more controlled system? 

In this episode, Adam’s joined by Rebecca Hainsworth, Partner at Browne Jacobson and Ken Jarrold, former chair of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors and Board of Directors, to discuss the Health Bill and the impact that reduced autonomy could have on local governance and quality of care.  

Plus, Adam catches up with new NHS Employers CEO Ben Morrin to find out what he'll be focusing on at a crucial moment for the NHS workforce.  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the health bill moving through parliament and the end of NHS England ever-looming, how realistic is a smooth transition - and can it really be done by next April? And is a single patient record going to be possible for the NHS, or are there too many pitfalls in its path?

In this special edition of Health on the Line, health minister Karin Smyth MP joins host Adam Brimelow for a one-on-one chat to explore the biggest jobs on her docket over the next year - one that’ll be pivotal for health and care.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government has decided to scrap Healthwatch in England. So what happens when the NHS’s independent patient champion disappears next spring?

Will moving its functions elsewhere cut duplication and simplify the patient safety landscape? Or could it weaken transparency and make it easier for concerns to be overlooked?

In this episode of Health on the Line, Adam Brimelow is joined by Lord Philip Hunt OBE, Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King’s Fund, and Gita Malhotra, chair of Healthwatch Redbridge, to discuss what Healthwatch’s abolition means for patients.

Plus, Adam speaks to John Browett, chair of NHS Online, the NHS’s first digital-only trust. As it prepares to launch next autumn, he explores how it fits the government’s drive from analogue to digital healthcare, and whether a fully 'online hospital' will improve access or risk fragmenting care.

Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to report from the front line of the NHS? 

In this episode of Health on the Line, we’re diving into the world of health and care journalism and exploring how news stories and investigations can play a huge role in uplifting the NHS, as well as holding its leaders to account. And we’re doing it live from the podcast arena at NHS ConfedExpo – the UK's leading health and care conference.  

Adam Brimelow is joined live by Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Alliance, Laura Hughes, public policy correspondent at the Financial Times and Shaun Wooller, health editor at the Daily Mail. 

They’ll also be taking stock of highlights at the conference, reflecting on what they heard from NHS leaders and other delegates about the current state of the NHS: with the one-year anniversary of the 10 Year Health Plan looming and the planned abolition of NHS England on the horizon, how much has the government progressed on health and social care two years on from the general election – and what does it need to prioritise now?  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Health on the Line, host Adam Brimelow looks ahead to NHS ConfedExpo 2026, featuring interviews with Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS England, and Sir Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of The NHS Alliance. 

As the Ten Year Health Plan approaches its first anniversary, Adam explores with both leaders how much progress has been made over the past year and crucially, how much meaningful transformation is possible at a time of constrained funding and sustained operational pressure. 

Elsewhere in the episode, Adam is joined by Stuart Hoddinott from the Institute for Government and Anu Singh, Chair of the Integrated Care Boards spanning Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, to reflect on the government’s plans to restructure the NHS and abolish NHS England. 

The episode also examines the implications of Alan Milburn’s interim report on young people and work. Adam is joined by Rebecca Gray, Director of The NHS Alliance’s Mental Health Network, and Dean Royles, Chief Executive of NHS Employers, to explore what the findings mean for the future of the NHS workforce. 

Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.