Health inequalities for those with a mental illness, learning disability or autism have existed for decades and the coronavirus pandemic has made them even worse. We dedicate this episode to talk about why patients in this group have worse global health outcomes than the rest of the population, why “sticking-plaster solutions” don’t cut it anymore and if the move towards integrated care is a reason to feel positive. Annabelle Collins and Rebecca Thomas are joined by Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the charity ’Centre for Mental Health’.

HSJ Health Check

Inequality kills: Why £2.3bn is not enough to rescue mental health

We discuss Sajid Javid’s first Tory conference as health secretary and try and pin down the “fundamental and far-reaching reforms” he pledged to make. Also – the biggest review of NHS leadership in 40 years has been announced by the government. We discuss why now, when healthcare leaders are under more pressure than ever,  what it hopes to achieve and why managers are an easy target.

Chained naked outside the Department of Health

On the podcast this week we look ahead to winter and ask whether NHS England’s ten-point A&E action plan could prevent a crisis. We also discuss important changes to infection control guidance and whether this could make a difference to the ever-growing elective backlog.

Another winter nightmare?

On this week’s podcast, we discuss the knock-on impact covid has had on staffing and services, after medical consultants at a major acute trust warned its leadership that specialist staff shortages are causing services to become unsafe. Also, Greater Manchester’s coroner’s office has opened an unusually high number of inquests into patient deaths — higher than all the other coroners in Yorkshire, Humber and the North East combined. Should this raise concerns that hundreds of other deaths around the region are not being properly investigated? We discuss the coronial system and the legacy of Harold Shipman in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Why NHS services are collapsing

The government has announced £15.6bn extra funding for the NHS — but NHS England is having to curb its ‘long-term plan’ ambitions and considering which of its budgets to shave. This week’s HSJ Health Check podcast explores why. We also cover how NHS England’s commitment to publish core performance data broken down to identify health inequalities, among other “urgent actions” to tackle inequalities, is nearly a year overdue. Featuring Dave West, Nick Kituno and Rebecca Thomas. You can listen to HSJ Health Check on this page, or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all the other popular podcast platforms. Send feedback to annabelle.collins@wilmingtonhealthcare.com.

Why £15.6bn extra spells cuts for the NHS

This week’s HSJ Health Check podcast discusses the warnings made by a Greater Manchester coroner over the risks of remote GP appointments, following the deaths of five people. Is it fair to blame general practice for the safety concerns? We also talked about the government’s big health and care funding announcement and what it means for the NHS. Featuring Lawrence Dunhill, Jasmine Rapson and Rebecca Thomas.

Is it ‘unfair’ to blame GPs for remote consultations risk?

This week’s HSJ Health Check podcast discusses the government comms “playbook” which, as revealed by HSJ, told trusts they should describe new wings, units and refurbishments as “new hospitals” — which they are not. We also talk about NHS England’s framework contract for salary advance schemes for NHS staff, similar to the proposal from now-collapsed Earnd. Featuring Ben Clover, Annabelle Collins and Dave West.

The ‘new hospital’ playbook lie

With seven months to go we discuss what ICSs have to do before they become statute on 1 April, amid brewing rows over who might sit on the board. We also discuss mental health provider collaboratives, which will soon be taking on budgets and ask: what can ICSs learn from them? And with yet more news of private providers being rated inadequate, we ask who is keeping a grip on care quality. Featuring Sharon Brennan, Rebecca Thomas and Annabelle Collins.

The rocky road ahead for integrated care systems

An HSJ investigation revealed this week that coroners have raised multiple concerns pandemic hospital visiting restrictions may have had a damaging effect on patient care. We discuss how vulnerable patients have been adversely affected by these covid rules and how trusts are still having to balance patient visiting with reducing the spread of covid. Also this episode- trust leaders have spoken of fears that specialised services could become fragmented under Health Bill reforms. We cover why new delegated budgets could result in ICS’ going their own way. Featuring Hayley Kirton, Jack Serle and Annabelle Collins.

Are covid visiting restrictions damaging patient safety?

Waits in NHS accident and emergency departments have risen to an all-time high, according to the latest national data, while there has been a surge in the number of people calling ambulances for the most serious types of incidents. We try and unpick why the health service is under such extreme pressure in the middle of summer. Also the ongoing international blood collection tube shortage rumbles on and we discuss the impact this is having on patients and service providers. Featuring Annabelle Collins, Alison Moore and Jack Serle

Why ambulance and A&E waits have hit record highs

This week’s NHS Health Check podcast is dedicated to all matters staffing. We discuss the implications of the pay review and where the NHS will find the money to fund it since the government said it must come from the NHS’s own budgets; who should be paid more, chief executives of trusts or integrated care systems; and why shielding NHS staff were not given risk assessments before they returned to work as initially promised by NHS England. This week’s podcast is brought to you by Annabelle Collins, Nick Kituno and Sharon Brennan

Salaries, systems and shielding

In a leaked letter obtained by HSJ the government has told eight of the most advanced ‘40 new hospitals’ trusts to put together cheaper plans for their new buildings. Trusts are scrambling to get their new plans in by Monday and we dissect what impact this could have on the future of these crucial rebuilding schemes. We also discuss the recent announcement of 25 permanent chairs for the new integrated care boards, and of course, the appointment of new NHS CEO Amanda Pritchard. Featuring Sharon Brennan, Nick Carding and Annabelle Collins.

How the government is trying to build back cheaper

The sharp increase in shared NHS trust chairs and CEOs has been notable in recent months, with more key appointments made in London and the North West just this week. We discuss why the appointment of joint chairs matters, how boards cope when overseeing more organisations and what this means for the integration agenda. Also, this week NHS England has sent a striking letter to trusts in the Midlands warning them they may be entering the most difficult period of the pandemic for more than a year. We ask why this region has specifically been warned, when many parts of the country are under pressure, and what the next few weeks holds for the NHS. Featuring Lawrence Dunhill, Annabelle Collins and Dave West.

HSJ podcast: Why the NHS needs fewer chairs and chiefs than ever

Trusts received an unpleasant surprise last Friday when they were told they must do more elective procedures to receive money from the national £1bn ‘elective recovery fund’. The demand for more activity comes with pressure on providers rising as covid levels soar. We discuss how local systems feel the move has left their elective recovery plans in tatters and the politics behind the row. Also, trusts in the north east have told staff contacted by the covid app they do not need to self-isolate. Will this become a countrywide trend considering NHS staff shortages?

A nasty surprise for trusts and preparing for after 19 July

The NHS Health Bill has finally been published. We discuss the most eye-catching measures and the controversies surrounding what was supposed to be straight-forward legislation. We also look into what it all means for integrated care systems and why a lot still needs to be thrashed out if the bill is to be enshrined in law by April 2022 as planned. And we update listeners on what is proving to be a worryingly busy summer for the NHS.

The Health Bill has landed

HSJ Health Check: Weekly analysis of the biggest issues in health policy and leadership, from HSJ's expert journalists. The go to place for an independent, informed and immediate take on health and care news.

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