Prevention is the New Cure

In Episode 89, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell dive into the urgent headlines shaping British healthcare. From the tragic Meningitis B outbreak in Kent to the "productivity paradox" of AI in hospitals, this episode strips back the politics to look at what actually works.

In this episode, we discuss:
The Meningitis B Outbreak: Why a "policy-created" vulnerability gap has left teenagers at risk and what needs to change in the UK’s vaccine strategy.
AI in the NHS: Prof. Jenny Shand (UCL) joins us to debunk the hype. Does "ambient voice technology" actually save money, or just make doctors happier?
Health as Wealth: Lord Bethell previews Patrick Vallance’s landmark speech on treating health as an economic growth engine.
Early Cancer Detection: The truth behind the "Grail" blood test results and why the BMJ is sceptical.
The Parkrun Phenomenon: Celebrating 10 million participants and Steve’s quest to break the 28-minute barrier.

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This episode is produced by Shortbread Media / Calum Macdonald.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord James Bethell join from around the world: James from Blackpool and Steve from North Macedonia.

They dive into the looming GP contract ballot and the threat of industrial action, the "quiet war" on air pollution, and the surprising health outcomes of North Macedonia. James shares a personal announcement regarding his future in the House of Lords and his decision to step away from the hereditary peerage to focus on health innovation.

Stay tuned until the end to hear about the "Pigs in Space" of medicine: manufacturing cancer drugs in microgravity.

In this episode, we discuss:
The health disparity between Blackpool and Notting Hill.
The BMA GP contract referendum: Is a "work to rule" coming?
Why Lord Bethell is leaving the House of Lords.
Air quality: From "dirty air denier" to clean air evangelist.
Bio-Orbit and the future of protein folding and drugs made in space.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The £200bn Question: Why Isn’t the NHS Getting Healthier?

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell take analyse the status quo of UK health policy. With NHS spending in England projected to reach £217 billion by 2025/26, the debate isn't about if we have the money, but how we are wasting it.

James Bethell argues that the doubling of the NHS budget over the last 17 years has had "zero impact" on the nation's healthy longevity. We dive deep into why the political obsession with "40 New Hospitals" was a strategic blunder and why the future of the NHS depends on a "Cavalier vs. Roundhead" battle over health data and early intervention.

Also inside This Episode:

The Hospital Trap: Why 80% of funding goes to acute care while community health "puddles" dry up.
The Weight-Loss Jab Dilemma: Is paying GPs to prescribe drugs like Monjuro a breakthrough or "pharma capture"?
The MAHA Movement: We look across the Atlantic at RFK Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative as 18 US states move to ban candy and soda from food stamps.
UK Biobank Breakthrough: A major 2026 milestone as 500,000 GP records are finally unlocked for research. Steve Brine reveals the "political fear" that held this back for nearly a decade.
Fighting the Silent Killer: We discuss the £2.6m investment in 20 new DEXA bone scanners—a "tiny" spend that could save the NHS billions in fracture care.

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Prevention is the new cure is produced by Shortbread Media. This week's producer is Calum Macdonald.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can we "prescribe" our way out of a national health crisis?

In this episode, former Health Ministers James Bethell and Steve Brine are joined by Charlotte Refsum (Head of Health at the Tony Blair Institute) to dissect the week's biggest headlines in health policy.

In this episode:

The Tobacco & Vapes Bill: Why 74 Tories voted against the generational smoking ban.
The "Fat Jab" Debate: Should GPs be paid to prescribe GLP-1s, or is there a better way?
National Security: Why "Vaccine Sovereignty" is as important as energy or food security.
NHS Tech: Why the NHS App feels like it’s built for the system, not the patient.

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Did you know? This podcast is one of the top health and social care podcasts around. Help make us #1 by following our show today.

This episode is produced by Shortbread Media; producer, Calum Macdonald.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell chat to Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund.

Sarah Woolnough argues that health is not made in hospitals — it is shaped by housing, education, environment and regulation. The discussion explores whether the UK needs a fundamental shift away from a “sickness service” towards long-term health investment.

🔍 Key topics include:
Whether Keir Starmer’s proposed social media age limits represent real reform or political signalling
The impact of the Online Safety Act 2023 on child protection
A new £20m addiction and gambling prevention fund
Why health tech innovation struggles inside the NHS
Whether NICE’s new HealthTech Access Programme could transform adoption
Why prevention always loses to acute pressures like A&E and GP access
The political risks of continuing to expand NHS spending without structural reform

Plus: why dog ownership may reduce dementia risk by 40%.

This episode celebrates the third anniversary of the podcast!
Steve and James look back on the different iterations of the show and reflect on three years of the best health and politics podcast around!

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation
📩 Email: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp the show: 0333 404 6507

Did you know? This podcast is one of the top health and social care podcasts around. Help make us #1 by following our show today.

This episode is produced by Shortbread Media; production Tim Pont / Calum Macdonald.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.