Steve and James return with episode 81 of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure.

They chat just hours after James (Lord Bethell) led the charge on a debate in the House of Lords which saw Peers vote through an amendment which would ban under-16's from social media across the UK.

Also, as nearly a quarter of hospitals in England report waiting times have worsened since the government published its plan to tackle the backlog a year ago, the pair discuss whether Ministers have chosen the right path given A&E waits - and corridor care - continue to hit the headlines.

And, given the ongoing broader debate around immigration policy as the main parties chase Reform, Steve's Thursday rant focuses on health and care workforce shortages and asks whether we have a race to the bottom healthcare recruitment which is harming the service in the short-term.

Finally, in good news corner, Steve and James talk about an international trial that is examining whether a finger-prick blood test called Bio-Hermes-002 could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. BBC News story link.

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The health and politics podcast reaches its 80th episode! Steve and James discuss Kemi Badenoch's social media ban proposal, the high-wire act of negotiating a new GP contract and what Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, meant when he cited GIRFT (get it right first time) at a major conference this week.

Also, this week saw a genuine medical breakthrough as a patient at Manchester Royal Infirmary became the first in the UK to receive a new CAR-T treatment for aggressive blood cancer. The pair discuss what this means.

And James owns up to progress on his 'Dry January' efforts this year!

We welcome your feedback on our discussions and suggestions for what we might discuss next and who we might interview. You can email [email protected] or find us on any of our social media channels.

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For their first episode of 2026, Steve & James pick over the big stories in health and politics this week including the new NHS Online service, junk food advertising ban and the rollout of a new chicken pox vaccine for children.

They also pick up on a huge story concerning Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) after Little Mix star, Jesy Nelson, said her twins had been diagnosed with the rare muscle disease. We talked to Giles Lomax from the charity SMA UK in February 2025 for episode 49.

And we have a great guest to start the year as the author of the UK government's National Food Strategy, Henry Dimbleby, pops in for a chat about 'fat jabs' and how we might get ourselves, and the planet, into shape at the start of the new year. Find Henry on X here.

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Steve & James

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After a busy year, which saw Steve team up with Lord James Bethell for chapter three of THE health and politics podcast, it's time for some festive fun as an old friend joins.

Original co-host, Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, dials in from her home in New Zealand to play a special game of snap with a Kiwi twist - Yeh / Yeh-Nah - which looks at the current similarities between the two countries in health and politics. Discussion ranges from health service reorganisation and workforce strife to public health outbreaks.

And Pod Surgery makes a one-off return as the pair discuss the flu epidemic hitting England's hospitals and whether it really did come from the southern hemisphere?

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The main story in health and politics this week is the gathering flu epidemic and the impact it is already having on the acute sector. Steve and James talk to Dr Adrian Boyle, immediate past President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, to get a view from the front-line.

They also give their reflections on masks in public (disagree on cycle helmets!) and consider the maternity safety story also making the news this week as Baroness Amos releases her initial findings on her National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.

And finally, as it's their last episode together before the Christmas break, the pair consider their end of year awards and predictions for 2026.

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As the increasingly bitter war of words between Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, and the British Medical Association hots up James and Steve discuss who really are the 'moaning minnies' of the NHS.

They also consider the Government's new HIV Action Plan, published earlier this week and the highly significant US/UK deal on future medicines announced on Monday.

The former Ministers also reflect on the initial decision from the National Screening Committee NOT to proceed with a new national screening programme for prostate cancer and agree it's soon all eyes (again) on the Secretary of State.

And in other news, Steve reveals a personal detail about his already erected home Christmas tree and James explains why he's pro bongo when it comes to being a DJ.

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The health and politics podcast moves into a new chapter as James Bethell joins the team and his first episode is a big one as he and Steve consider Budget 2025.

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Sarah calls it a day as she swims away into cold water retirement. The pair discuss the latest strikes by Resident Doctors and some new polling from Future Health Research on what the public think about paying more tax at next week's Budget for the NHS.

And they're joined by Sonia Pombo from Action on Salt & Sugar to discuss what we can learn from the 'sugar tax' and how we can use that to reach a consensus with the food industry and government over the harmful effects of a high salt diet, and bring about a reduction in the amount of salt in processed foods.

For their final 'pod surgery' together, Steve and Sarah discuss a major new AI driven project to tackle drug-resistant superbugs, how hundreds of hospice beds are sitting empty due to NHS cut-backs and why children are being hit harder but the current flu wave sweeping across the country.

You can find the podcast on all our social media channels via our LinkTree page and get in touch (including with Sarah) via [email protected]

Chapter Three of this podcast - with Steve and his new co-host James Bethell - returns on Thursday November 27 2025 with a Budget reaction special.

Thanks for listening and good luck to Sarah!

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Sarah is away so Steve is on his own for a shortened episode which considers two key pre-Budget considerations for the NHS and welcomes a special guest to talk long-term conditions and the benefits of physical exercise.

Deborah Alsina from The Richmond Group and CEO of Arthritis UK discusses why the Chief Medical Officer described physical activity as a 'miracle cure' for those battling poor health. And the pair consider how the Government's 10 Year Health Plan - and neighbourhood health ambitions - can help.

And much to her surprise, Deborah steps in to join Steve for this week's Pod Surgery which considers vaping overtaking smoking for the first time and a new breath test for pancreatic cancer trial. You heard it here first!

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This week Steve and Sarah are joined by Jennifer Dixon of the Health Foundation for a wide-ranging chat about the NHS Ten Year Plan, whether we really can prove there's a cost saving to preventing ill health and her recent time spent with THREE former Health Secretaries.

This week's Pod Surgery considers prostate cancer diagnosis within a day using AI and hairdressers as mental health life savers celebrating the work of The Lions Barbers in Devon.

Oh and on the subject, Sarah drops a bombshell with news she has a cape and a full barbers kit to (lockdown style) cut her grandchildren's hair!

We love to hear from you with suggestions and ideas; find us on all our socials via our LinkTree page and/or email [email protected]

Episode links:

Health Foundation Blog as discussed

Health Foundation letter to the Chancellor ahead of Autumn 2025 Budget

The Lions Barbers Collective

Skip short strolls - a longer daily walk is better for your heart says study

Annals of Internal Medicine

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