It’s been a busy week in the world of UK politics, we’ve seen pledges to boost NHS community services, progress the New Hospital Programme and reform social care by introducing free personal care. But what do these pledges really mean?  

Join Andrew McCracken, Sally Warren and Siva Anandaciva as we delve into the Conservative Party’s plan to bolster community services and outline the debate on the health and care workforce so far. Plus, we answer a listener question: should we redefine what we count as ‘NHS’ or ‘health’ spend, and is there ever a case where ring-fencing budget is a good thing?  

Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email, X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund or LinkedIn.

Related resources

• General election 2024: 28 days and counting 
• The NHS budget and how it has changed (data explainer) 
• ‘Topic avoidance’: how the main parties will avoid talking about social care at this general election 
• Making care closer to home a reality (report) 

How does the Labour Party plan to clear the NHS backlog? What public health initiatives might be mentioned in party proposals?

Join host Andrew McCracken, Assistant Director of External Affairs and King's Fund colleagues, Sally Warren and Saoirse Mallorie, as we delve into the key debates in health and care in the lead up to the 2024 general election. Plus, we answer a listener question: 'is it sensible for political parties to commit to performance targets for the NHS?'.

Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email ([email protected]), LinkedIn or X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund and your question might be featured in one of our episodes. 

The countdown to the 2024 UK general election is now on. Join Andrew McCracken, Assistant Director of External Affairs and colleagues here at The King’s Fund for our new election podcast series.

Over the next five weeks we'll be examining the key debates and exploring the big issues in health and care. We'll also be answering your listener questions and highlighting some of the important issues that are missing from the national debate.   The first episode is coming soon, with new episodes dropping each week. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts. 

Want to get involved? Send us your general election questions via email ([email protected]), LinkedIn or X (formerly known as Twitter) @TheKingsFund and your question might be featured in one of our episodes. 

Ruth Robertson sits down with Dr Waheed Arian, who shares his journey of leaving Afghanistan as a refugee, becoming an NHS doctor and founding two organisations which use technology to overcome barriers in health care. In this episode, Waheed delves into the importance of hope, compassion and mentors during times of adversity.

Related resources

• Digital health and care conference (in-person event)
• What is compassionate leadership? (explainer)

Ruth Robertson is joined by a panel of King's Fund experts to discuss the state of health and care in the context of a potential general election in 2024. 

Between the British Social Attitudes survey, the NHS staff survey and performance data, we have a lot of information to give us a view of the current health and social care landscape. We also discuss what the data doesn't show us and the need for long-term strategies to solve the health and care crisis.

• Where services are at after the winter period (01:15)
• The Spring budget announcements (06:04)
• The need for long-term strategy (09:15)
• Connection between workforce and performance (11:50)
• NHS staff survey 2023 (13:52)
• Public views on the NHS (21:22)
• Recent action on public health interventions (26:04)
• Poverty and NHS services (28:17)
• Reasons to be hopeful (32:28)

Related content

• Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023: Results of the British Social Attitudes survey
• Beneath the surface: what does the 2023 NHS Staff Survey really tell us?
• The King's Fund's priorities for health and care at the next general election

How are community groups bridging some of the gaps between Black mothers and health and care services? What can the health and care system learn in response?

Siva Anandaciva speaks to Amanda Smith, founder and Chief Executive of Maternity Engagement Action CIC, Benash Nazmeen, Professor of Midwifery and co-founder and co-director of the Association of South Asian Midwives CIC, and Chrissy Brown, founder and Chief Executive of the Motivational Mums Club CIC, to find out.

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast, we've put together a list of organisations that can offer advice, information and support.

New year, new CEO for The King's Fund. In this episode host Jo Vigor sits down with Sarah Woolnough, who became our new chief executive at the end of 2023. Get to know Sarah as she shares her reflections on her career to date and the role of organisations like The King’s Fund in the health and care space.

In this episode, Ruth Robertson explores how the NHS elective care waiting list can be managed in a way that improves health equity with Dr Mark Ratnarajah, UK Managing Director at Precision Healthcare, Sharon Brennan, Director of Policy and External Affairs at National Voices and Dr Polly Mitchell, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Bioethics and Public Policy at King’s College London.

Related resources

• Tackling health inequalities on NHS waiting lists: learning from local case studies
• Waiting times for elective (non-urgent) treatment: referral to treatment (RTT)

What is anti-racism, and why is it important in the context of health and care? Jo Vigor sat down with Joy Warmington MBE, Chief Executive of the equalities and human rights charity brap, to find out. Joy explores the importance of forging genuine change beyond target setting and delves into her own journey of leading authentically and having the courage to do things differently.

Related resources

• Open Wounds exhibition: Tottenham Rights in collaboration with The King’s Fund (event)
• Our work on discrimination and issues of equality and diversity within the health and care workforce (topic page)

What does the future of health and care look like from the perspective of three young leaders, and how can they help to shape that future? Join Jo Vigor as she speaks to Hannah McCaffery, Registered Manager at Richmond Fellowship, Rini Jones, Senior Policy and Research Manager at Marie Curie and Beth Sutherland, Senior Project Manager in the National Ambulance Team at NHS England.

Related resource

• Those who dare: thinking differently about the health and care workforce (event)