Health On The Line

• Standing firm in power and pride: celebrating Black History Month in the NHS

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

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• NHS league tables: how do performance rankings impact NHS trusts?

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

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• Ambulance services: the canary in the coalmine for NHS pressures

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

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• The neighbourhood shift: Can the 10 Year Health Plan deliver?

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

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• Is the NHS ready for a digital future? Insights from the Ten-Year Health Plan

  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 MIDASAnnie Bliss, senior policy adviser at the NHS ConfederationHealth on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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