Prevention is the New Cure

Conference season continues with a special LIVE episode of the podcast from The Pharmacy Show.Held at the NEC in Birmingham, it is the UK's major gathering for the Pharmacy sector and has been for over a decade. Former Pharmacy Minister, Steve Brine, was there meeting old friends, understanding where pharmacy feels it is 18-months into a Labour Government and hosting a series of events in the Business Theatre for BeWell. One event, which we also recorded for this podcast, had Steve in conversation with the head of Community Pharmacy England, Janet Morrison.Feedback welcome; find us on our socials via our LinkTree page or email podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Brine and Dr Sarah Wollaston discuss a wide range of stories including the drug pricing row engulfing our life sciences sector, more bad news for Ministers on NHS waiting lists, walk-in GP centres in Scotland and the Rishi Sunak / David Lammy double-act on prostate cancer.The pair also take a considered look at news, first reported in the Health Service Journal, that Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, is to launch a review of the prevalence of mental illness and neurodivergence. What lies behind it, what might it recommend and does the Prime Minister have a wider agenda?And Steve takes a moment to mention a brand new charity he is chairing - which gets it launch this evening - Winchester Cancer Sanctuary.Oh and they consider dogs and their balls; it's a long story ...Thanks for listening to our podcast; please follow the show and find us on all our social media channels via LinkTree. You can email podcast@stevebrine.com with feedback, ideas and to suggest guests. Contact on behalf of commercial guests are considered on a case-by-case basis and sponsorship opportunities are available. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Steve is on his own for a special LIVE episode of the podcast from The CARE Show at the NEC in Birmingham.He is joined by two guests; Dr Jan Townson from the Homecare Association and Kehan Zhou from Camascope. They discuss many of the current issues around social care, interaction with the Ten Year Plan and the sectors' vital role in keeping people well for longer. And they consider the role Reform Party politicians are already playing in local government commissioning care services.The Care ShowHomecare AssociationCamascopeYou can find and follow our podcast on all our socials via our LinkTree page and get in touch podcast@stevebrine.comPlease follow our show via your podcast platform of choice and thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve & Sarah get together to discuss the Labour Party Conference after Steve's first visit to the party's annual gathering in Liverpool. They consider the health announcements made including a pay uplift for care workers and the new 'NHS Online' offer. And they're joined by Baroness Luciana Berger, from the conference, to hear all about a special new temporary select committee to consider the controversial Assisted Dying Bill before Parliament.You can find our podcast on all our social channels via our LinkTree page.And you can get in touch with ideas or feedback via podcast@stevebrine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah is away so Lord (James) Bethell joins Steve Brine as guest co-host. The pair reflect on the NHS Ten Year Plan two-months on, the return of provider league tables, the resignation of Claire Fuller as Director of Mental Health at NHSE and the government's junk food advertising ban.And they are joined by special guest, Alison Gardiner from Sleepstation to talk about their evidence-based digital care pathways for persistent sleep problems.This episode is sponsored by Sleepstation. In a single month, the service helps more NHS patients than the largest sleep clinics in England treat in an entire year, showing that safe, effective care can be delivered at scale - without losing the human touch that makes it meaningful. Find out more at www.sleepstation.org.ukYou can find our podcast on all the main social media channels via our LinkTree page and contact us at podcast@stevebrine.comPlease remember to 'Follow' our show and thank you so much for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Penny Dash, NHS England Chair, brings her wealth of experience from global healthcare systems to the discussion. She shares her journey from clinician to a leadership role, offering insights into the complexities of NHS management and the recent organizational changes. The talk highlights the shift towards community-focused health initiatives, addressing the inverse care law and challenges in healthcare infrastructure. Discussions also touch on the importance of integrated care models and the future of NHS IT as critical national infrastructure, all sprinkled with a playful call for a future beach catch-up.

Steve & Sarah are on their hols so Episode 65 is a special pre-recorded interview Steve did a few weeks back with Dr Andrew Murray from the Golf & Health Project.It’s a game Steve has played for over 40 years – and played with his late father including for a period after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.Steve and Andrew talk about the project, how it came about and the work it does to make the case for golf as a sport, a means of physical activity across the ages – and some of its other rather extraordinary – impacts on the lives of the people who play; not least as club in the bag of prevention ill health!Golf & Health ProjectGolf in SocietyYou can watch a short-film Steve made with Golf & Health, during his time as Public Health Minister in 2018, via You TubeThis episode's cover image shows (from left to right); Dr Andrew Murray, Professor Fiona Bull (WHO Programme Manager, Non-Communicable Disease Prevention), Steve Brine, Annika Sorenstam Major Champion and a global ambassador for golf and health), Martin Slumbers (then Chief Executive of The R&A) and Craig Tracey (then Chair of the All-Party Group on Golf) in Westminster at the International Congress on Golf & Health in 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Refsum, Director of Health Policy at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, discusses the transformative potential of the NHS App in healthcare delivery. She highlights the integration of patient records and compares the NHS’s digital capabilities to private sector innovations. The conversation also touches on groundbreaking obesity treatments and the ongoing challenges facing the NHS amid strikes and leadership changes. Additionally, Charlotte shares insights into drug education, safety at festivals, and global efforts to tackle plastic pollution.

For this week's big interview, Steve Brine and Dr Sarah Wollaston talk to Fiona Measham from "The Loop UK" about preventing drug deaths at UK festivals. Their aim is to reduce drug-related harm through healthcare interventions informed by research and drug checking at events - and in city centres. It's a fascinating glimpse into a little talked about aspect of health prevention.The Loop websiteArticle - The long and winding road to drug checking in the UKThe pair also talk about the imminent 'resident doctors' strike - which begins tomorrow for five days - and consider the ramifications for the NHS and the Ten Year Plan. And they discuss Gillian Leng's review of Physician and Anaesthetic Associates published this month.Leng ReviewThey also cover the Dash Review into patient safety and, in pod surgery, it's measles and how a new study from The Lancet says just 7,000 steps a day cuts health risks.You can find (and follow) us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and BlueSky and email us podcast@stevebrine.comThanks for listening! Next schedule episode drops on August 7 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the dust settles on the recently published NHS Ten Year Plan, the team sit down for a deep dive interview with one of the most high profile voices in health; Matthew Taylor who leads the NHS Confederation. They unpack the plan, its' strengths and weaknesses and where it should strike the balance between reform and recovery. And they touch on the resident doctors ballot from the BMA which will see five more strike days hit the NHS in England later this month.NHS ConfederationThe Parliament Matters Podcast Steve & Sarah discuss can be found - Parliament Matters.Feedback and comment very welcome - podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and now Bluesky via our PITNCpodcast | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.