PodcastsGovernmentPrevention is the New Cure

Prevention is the New Cure

Steve Brine & James Bethell
Prevention is the New Cure
Latest episode

102 episodes

  • Prevention is the New Cure

    100. Chris Whitty opens up

    04/06/2026 | 45 mins.
    England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, joins former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell inside the Department of Health for our landmark 100th episode.

    Sir Chris breaks down the data behind the prostate cancer screening decision, why 45% of dementia cases can be delayed, the truth about childhood obesity and air pollution.

    In this special episode we sit down with the Government’s Chief Medical Officer to tackle the science of uncertainty. From his pivotal role in the Tobacco and Vapes Act to the rise of localised air pollution from wood-burning stoves in urban environments, Sir Chris Whitty shares a masterclass on individual vs. societal risk. We also explore the future of the treatments over the next 20 years, including the revolutionary impacts of cancer immunotherapy, RNA vaccines, and AI diagnostics.

    A co-production by Calum Macdonald at Shortbread Media, and George Cooper at Footwork Media.
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    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
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  • Prevention is the New Cure

    99. Does Tony Blair have a point?

    28/05/2026 | 42 mins.
    In a week that Tony Blair returned to UK headlines, James Bethell and Steve Brine wonder whether the former Prime Minister is right on healthcare (among other things) and will he have an influence over a potential Labour leadership contest?

    This week’s episode also features Professor Adam Fox, Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group, discussing Britain’s growing allergy crisis, anaphylaxis, food labelling, Owen’s Law, and why allergy care urgently needs reform.

    You can find out more about the work of the National Allergy Strategy Group - and read their plan - here.

    Also on today's episode:
    Why heatwaves are becoming a major NHS challenge
    Melanoma skin cancer cases
    Ground-breaking lung cancer screening
    A “one-and-done” cholesterol injection that could transform prevention
    Why GLP-1 drugs are changing healthcare and politics

    This episode is produced by Tim Pont and is part of the Shortbread Media family of podcasts.
    --
    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    98. Burnham v. Streeting on Health

    21/05/2026 | 47 mins.
    As candidates emerge ahead of a potential Labour leadership contest James Bethell and Steve Brine consider a tale of two health secretaries vying for the top job. How do Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting stack up when it comes healthcare policy?

    Is Burnham’s local, social-determinant approach the future of 21st-century healthcare, or does Streeting’s Blairite, target-driven strategy hold the real key to saving the NHS?

    In this episode, we also discuss:
    The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo: is there cause for concern?
    Why This year's Chelsea Flower Show is putting health and wellbeing centre stage
    Women’s health, mental health and the social determinants of health
    --
    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    97. Who is the Health Secretary?

    14/05/2026 | 55 mins.
    Chaos in Westminster. As rumors of a Labour leadership challenge swirl, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell break down a week of political explosions and landmark policy shifts.

    In this episode, we dive into:
    The "Christmas Tree" Bill: Why the new NHS Modernisation Bill could be a gamble for the government.
    Single Patient Records: Is mandating data sharing the key to saving the NHS, or a privacy nightmare?
    Hantavirus on Cruise Ships: How worried should we really be about the latest outbreak?
    The "Beach Body" Pressure: Lord Bethell gets honest about the struggle of health, booze, and cortisol.
    --
    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    96. American special - the AI crash and what happens next

    07/05/2026 | 45 mins.
    James joins from the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills this week and the guys unpack five "states of mind" currently dominating the global health and politics landscape. From China’s surging dominance in biopharma innovation to the sobering reality of the failed resource shift toward prevention, this episode is a wake-up call for Western policy makers.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    The China Reckoning: How Jiangsu Hengrui overtook AstraZeneca and what it means for UK/US national security.
    The AI "Crash": Why 90% of AI startups may fail and what the "Middle of AI" looks like.
    The MHRA’s New Vision: Insights from Lawrence Tallon on digital technology and international reciprocity.
    US Politics & Health: Will Dr. Oz replace RFK Jr. in the American health landscape?
    The "Pre-loading" Debate: Should airport alcohol sales be banned?

    Connect with us:

    📧 Email: [email protected]
    📱 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507
    🎧 Subscribe for weekly insights into the heart of government decision-making

    This episode is produced by Calum Macdonald and is part of the Shortbread Media family.
    --
    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About Prevention is the New Cure
Former Health Ministers, Steve Brine and James Bethell, come together to discuss all things health and politics.Twitter:@PreventionPodcEmail:[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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