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.

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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.

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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.

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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 
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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.  

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This week on Health on the Line, Matthew Taylor is joined by Andrew Bland, ICS lead for South East London, and Ruth Rankine, director of the NHS Confederation’s Primary Care Network, to discuss the shift to neighbourhood health as outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan. 

Together they delve into the merits of the plan and possible barriers to its delivery, while reflecting on the emphasis on proactive, preventative and population-based care.  

Andrew shares insights from South East London’s rapid progress in implementing integrated care across boroughs like Bexley, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark in London. 

We’ll also hear from Ian Perrin, assistant director of the ICS Network at the NHS Confederation, on latest developments around integrated care board (ICB) redundancies and reports that at least one ICB is pausing plans over funding concerns. 

Liked this podcast? Share your thoughts, comments and questions with us by emailing [email protected]  

Our guests for this episode are:  

Andrew Bland - ICB Chief Executive Officer Designate, South East London ICS 

Ruth Rankine - Director of the Primary Care Network at NHS Confederation 

Ian Perrin - Assistant Director for Policy, ICS Network 

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

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In this episode of Health on the Line, we’re diving into all things digital and how it relates to the Ten-Year Health Plan for the NHS. To discuss the topic, we are joined by Andrea Winders, head of business development for life sciences and healthcare at MIDAS (Greater Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency), and Dr Nnenna Osuji, chief executive of North Middlesex Hospital, to unpack the NHS’s ambitious digital transformation plan. 

The conversation explores how the NHS can harness data, AI and digital tools to create the most digitally accessible health system in the world. From the promise of the NHS App as a ‘doctor in your pocket’ to the challenges of infrastructure, interoperability and staff training, our guests offer candid insights into what’s working and where improvements can be made. 

We also hear from Annie Bliss, senior policy advisor at the NHS Confederation, who delves into government plans to reintroduce performance league tables and what this means for the NHS. 

Our guests for this episode are: 

• Dr Nnenna Osuji, chief executive of North Middlesex Hospital,
• Andrea Winders, head of business development for life sciences and healthcare at MIDAS
• Annie Bliss, senior policy adviser at the NHS Confederation

Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus

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In this episode, Matthew Taylor is joined by Dr Ify Okocha, James Duncan and Rebecca Gray to unpack the mental health implications of the government's new Ten-Year Health Plan. From the rollout of neighbourhood health centres to mental health support in schools, the panel explores whether the plan’s bold ambitions can meet the realities of delivery. They also dive into harnessing digital tools, the social determinants of mental ill health, the role of integrated care boards and how working with local leadership can drive meaningful change. 

Our guests for this episode are: 

• Dr Ify Okocha, chief executive of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 
• James Duncan, chief executive of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust 
• Rebecca Gray, director of the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network 
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Plus, we hear from Tom Gurney, director of strategic communication and engagement at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board for this week’s Leader in Six. 

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

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Since its creation in 1948, the NHS has had to move with the times. But while change is an ever-present feature, can the NHS approach it in a different or better way? In this bonus episode, Matthew Taylor puts the question to Dr Richard Jones and Dr Llinos Jones from the ChangeACADEMY. The academy – a programme offered by AstraZeneca (AZ) in collaboration with the NHS Confederation – creates change leaders that can deliver strategic, system-level change on behalf of NHS organisations and the patients it serves. Richard, a faculty member, and Llinos, alumnus of the academy, shed light on the academy’s approach to change and how it’s improving patient care and outcomes. They also unpack how to untangle the knotty issues of spreading and scaling good practice and innovation across the NHS.

This podcast episode has been developed in collaboration with AstraZeneca. Guest speakers have been contracted by AstraZeneca. This episode is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals and other Relevant Decision Makers. The ChangeACADEMY is a non-promotional service initiated and funded by AstraZeneca and offered to the NHS as Donated Goods and Services (DOGS).  This service is offered to clinical and non-clinical personnel who represent NHS Healthcare organisations and meet the delegate criteria. The views and opinions expressed are those of the Speakers. 

GB-66536, Date of Preparation: May 2025

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

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

For this episode of Health on the Line, we're joined by three expert guests to unpack the government's Ten-Year Health Plan, which has just been released. We'll be reflecting on the key elements of the plan – what it means for the health and care service and the kinds of shifts that will be needed for it to be successful. We also reflect on the current landscape that the plan lands in with changes within integrated care boards and acutes, in particular; the capacity needed to achieve the neighbourhood shift; and discuss what the barriers to success of the plan might be and how these could be overcome.

Our guests for this episode are: 

• Claire Fuller, GP and Primary Care Medical Director for NHS England 
• Sam Allen, Chief Executive, North East and North Cumbria ICB 
• Bill Morgan, former Number 10 health adviser 

Gubby-Ayida, chief executive of Evelina London’s Women's and Children's Services, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is with us for our Leader in Six. 

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

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For this episode of Health on the Line, recorded live at NHS ConfedExpo 2025, we’re exploring all things comms and engagement within the NHS.  

Our communications director Daniel Reynolds leads the discussion and is joined by three communications executives with deep experience in the sector: Edna Boampong, Ranjeet Kaile and Rory Hegarty.  

The lively discussion covers everything from challenges facing comms professionals in the sector: whether the profession has a ‘branding’ problem; diversity in the NHS; and harnessing the power of AI.  

• Edna Boampong is director of communications and engagement at Liverpool City Council. 

• Ranjeet Kaile is executive director of communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and South East London ICB.  

• Rory Hegarty is executive director of communications and involvement at North West London ICB. 

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

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