The King's Fund podcast

The 22 March marked the first 100 days of the new Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Helen McKenna sat down with Michelle Mitchell OBE, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Alex Thomas, a programme director at the Institute for Government, and Paul Corrigan CBE, former special adviser to two Secretaries of State for Health, and a former policy adviser to Tony Blair during his time as Prime Minister. Together, they explore what these first few months can tell us about the government's intentions for health and care, as well as how – in this new political environment – organisations can influence and affect change.

Please note that this episode was recorded on the 10 March. Since then our world has changed dramatically; the Covid-19 outbreak has developed rapidly and has affected us all, but particularly our health and care systems and the incredible people who work in them. We are exploring how we can use future episodes to focus on the impact of the outbreak and the experience of the staff who are working tirelessly across the health and care system to help those affected.

Related reading

• Health and social care: the first 100 days of the new government
• What's your problem, social care? The eight key areas for reform
• What are health inequalities?

Could prisons be an opportunity to address serious health inequalities? Or do they lead to worse health for people living in prison? Anna Charles explores the health and wellbeing of people living in prison, their access to health and care services, and what happens on release. She's joined by Dr Jake Hard, Chair of the RCGP Secure Environments Group, Christina Marriott, CEO of Revolving Doors, Chantal Edge, Public Health registrar and NIHR research fellow, and Kate Morrissey, National Implementation Lead for RECONNECT at NHS England and NHS Improvement.

• What are health inequalities?
• What is population health?

What is it like being the Chief Executive of The King's Fund? Helen McKenna spoke with Richard Murray about his first year in the job, the role of think tanks, the new strategy for The King's Fund and his vision for the health and care system.

Related reading

• Our strategic priorities for 2020–24
• Looking ahead to 2020
• Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce

Helen McKenna sits down with Ian Ford and Sarah Murphy, the producers of The King's Fund podcast, to look back on their favourite podcast moments of 2019.

How do our life experiences shape our health? What can we do to tackle social inequalities? Helen McKenna spoke with Professor David Williams from Harvard University about his research into the social influences on health and the interventions that could make a difference.

Related reading

• Inequalities and inclusion in NHS providers
• 'We're here and you're there': lived experiences of ethnic minority staff in the NHS
• Creating healthy places: perspectives from NHS England's Healthy New Towns programme

What are the main parties saying about health and social care in the general election debate? What comes next in delivering their manifesto pledges? Helen McKenna sits down with Sally Warren, Siva Anandaciva and Dave Buck from The King's Fund.

Related reading

• What have the parties pledged on health and care?
• Back in the 'too difficult' box: social care and the manifestos
• General election 2019: our work on health and social care ahead of the election

What's the scale of the challenge currently facing the NHS workforce? Prerana Issar sits down with Helen McKenna to discuss the NHS People Plan, her career journey, and what inspired her to take up her role as Chief People Officer for the NHS.

Related reading

• NHS workforce: our position
• Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce
• Compassionate and inclusive leadership

What role do the police play in responding to people in mental health crisis? Helen McKenna talks to Chief Constable Mark Collins, National Police Chief's Council Lead for Mental Health, Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health and Marsha McAdam, an expert by experience and Co-Chair of the Greater Manchester Personality Disorder Strategy Group.

• Mental health: our position
• Primary care networks and mental health
• Empathy and understanding in mental health: the role of a peer support worker

How can we address the nursing workforce crisis? Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, sits down with Helen McKenna to talk about nursing, workforce pressures and her leadership journey.

• NHS workforce: our position
• Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce
• Brexit: the implications for health and social care

With the recent Conservative leadership contest and Boris Johnson's inaugural speech as Prime Minister, social care funding reform is firmly back on the political agenda. In this episode, we look back at previous attempts at reform and explore why this has proved so challenging for successive governments. Helen McKenna speaks with Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE, Chair of the 2010/11 independent commission on the Funding of Care and Support, Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, and Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King's Fund.