After a busy year, which saw Steve team up with Lord James Bethell for chapter three of THE health and politics podcast, it's time for some festive fun as an old friend joins.

Original co-host, Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, dials in from her home in New Zealand to play a special game of snap with a Kiwi twist - Yeh / Yeh-Nah - which looks at the current similarities between the two countries in health and politics. Discussion ranges from health service reorganisation and workforce strife to public health outbreaks.

And Pod Surgery makes a one-off return as the pair discuss the flu epidemic hitting England's hospitals and whether it really did come from the southern hemisphere?

You can find our archive courtesy of our Podfollow and follow all our social media channels via our LinkTree page. You can get in touch with the team:

preventionisthenewcurepodcast@gmail.com

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The main story in health and politics this week is the gathering flu epidemic and the impact it is already having on the acute sector. Steve and James talk to Dr Adrian Boyle, immediate past President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, to get a view from the front-line.

They also give their reflections on masks in public (disagree on cycle helmets!) and consider the maternity safety story also making the news this week as Baroness Amos releases her initial findings on her National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation.

And finally, as it's their last episode together before the Christmas break, the pair consider their end of year awards and predictions for 2026.

Thanks for listening; please follow our podcast so it appears in your feed each time a new episode drops.

You can get in touch preventionisthenewcurepodcast@gmail.com and find our many social media channels via our LinkTree page.

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As the increasingly bitter war of words between Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, and the British Medical Association hots up James and Steve discuss who really are the 'moaning minnies' of the NHS.

They also consider the Government's new HIV Action Plan, published earlier this week and the highly significant US/UK deal on future medicines announced on Monday.

The former Ministers also reflect on the initial decision from the National Screening Committee NOT to proceed with a new national screening programme for prostate cancer and agree it's soon all eyes (again) on the Secretary of State.

And in other news, Steve reveals a personal detail about his already erected home Christmas tree and James explains why he's pro bongo when it comes to being a DJ.

You can get in touch with your ideas and feedback via our socials Podfollow or LinkTree or email preventionisthenewcurepodcast@gmail.com

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The health and politics podcast moves into a new chapter as James Bethell joins the team and his first episode is a big one as he and Steve consider Budget 2025.

You can get in touch podcast@stevebrine.com and find our socials via our LinkTree page.

Thanks for listening!

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Sarah calls it a day as she swims away into cold water retirement. The pair discuss the latest strikes by Resident Doctors and some new polling from Future Health Research on what the public think about paying more tax at next week's Budget for the NHS.

And they're joined by Sonia Pombo from Action on Salt & Sugar to discuss what we can learn from the 'sugar tax' and how we can use that to reach a consensus with the food industry and government over the harmful effects of a high salt diet, and bring about a reduction in the amount of salt in processed foods.

For their final 'pod surgery' together, Steve and Sarah discuss a major new AI driven project to tackle drug-resistant superbugs, how hundreds of hospice beds are sitting empty due to NHS cut-backs and why children are being hit harder but the current flu wave sweeping across the country.

You can find the podcast on all our social media channels via our LinkTree page and get in touch (including with Sarah) via podcast@stevebrine.com

Chapter Three of this podcast - with Steve and his new co-host James Bethell - returns on Thursday November 27 2025 with a Budget reaction special.

Thanks for listening and good luck to Sarah!

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Sarah is away so Steve is on his own for a shortened episode which considers two key pre-Budget considerations for the NHS and welcomes a special guest to talk long-term conditions and the benefits of physical exercise.

Deborah Alsina from The Richmond Group and CEO of Arthritis UK discusses why the Chief Medical Officer described physical activity as a 'miracle cure' for those battling poor health. And the pair consider how the Government's 10 Year Health Plan - and neighbourhood health ambitions - can help.

And much to her surprise, Deborah steps in to join Steve for this week's Pod Surgery which considers vaping overtaking smoking for the first time and a new breath test for pancreatic cancer trial. You heard it here first!

Find us and follow us on our social media channels via our LinkTree page and get in touch podcast@stevebrine.com

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This week Steve and Sarah are joined by Jennifer Dixon of the Health Foundation for a wide-ranging chat about the NHS Ten Year Plan, whether we really can prove there's a cost saving to preventing ill health and her recent time spent with THREE former Health Secretaries.

This week's Pod Surgery considers prostate cancer diagnosis within a day using AI and hairdressers as mental health life savers celebrating the work of The Lions Barbers in Devon.

Oh and on the subject, Sarah drops a bombshell with news she has a cape and a full barbers kit to (lockdown style) cut her grandchildren's hair!

We love to hear from you with suggestions and ideas; find us on all our socials via our LinkTree page and/or email podcast@stevebrine.com

Episode links:

Health Foundation Blog as discussed

Health Foundation letter to the Chancellor ahead of Autumn 2025 Budget

The Lions Barbers Collective

Skip short strolls - a longer daily walk is better for your heart says study

Annals of Internal Medicine

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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

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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.

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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 Show

Homecare Association

Camascope

You can find and follow our podcast on all our socials via our LinkTree page and get in touch podcast@stevebrine.com

Please follow our show via your podcast platform of choice and thanks for listening!

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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

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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.uk

You can find our podcast on all the main social media channels via our LinkTree page and contact us at podcast@stevebrine.com

Please remember to 'Follow' our show and thank you so much for listening!

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NHS England Chair, Dr Penny Dash, is in the hot-seat for a very special deep dive interview. This is a wide-ranging chat which covers Penny's journey from clinician to running the entire health service, the abolition of NHSE (and when she really knew it was happening!), the Ten Year Plan and the future of ICB's. They delve into what neighbourhood health really means, whether the NHS will ever achieve its own constitutional standards on waiting times and use of the independent sector in doing so.

They also touch on whether NHS IT, as critical national infrastructure, should sit under the Secretary of State in DHSC as the reorganisation is concluded.

And the trio make a date to speak again - on a beach in Devon - with a swim!

We want to hear from you with your feedback on this interview and suggestions for future episodes; podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on our socials via our LinkTree page.

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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 Project

Golf in Society

You can watch a short-film Steve made with Golf & Health, during his time as Public Health Minister in 2018, via You Tube

This 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.

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This week Steve & Sarah are joined by head of health at the Tony Blair Institute, Dr Charlotte Refsum. They talk about their new report on the potential of the NHS App, obesity 'fat jab' drugs and the NHS Ten Year Plan for England which they have widely influenced.

The pair also look back at their interview with The Loop (Episode 63) about drug taking at UK Summer festivals, as a new Coroner report lands following a death last year at the Boomtown Festival near Winchester.

Other subjects covered in this episode include a look at the ongoing resident doctors strike, the surprise announcement from Dr Sam Roberts that she will step down as CEO of NICE and a 'final' attempt to agree a legally binding global plastics treaty following a landmark report in The Lancet.

Steve & Sarah are taking a break now through August but will return with their next full episode on Thursday September 4 2025. However, do look out for a special recorded episode from Steve on the subject of golf and health which will drop on Thursday August 21 at 08:00.

You can contact us via our many socials via our LinkTree page or get in touch : podcast@stevebrine.com

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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 website

Article - The long and winding road to drug checking in the UK

The 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 Review

They 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.com

Thanks for listening! Next schedule episode drops on August 7 2025.

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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 Confederation

The 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.

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