Prevention is the New Cure

Steve is joined by Sarah Woolnough from The Kings Fund to discuss the latest developments in health and care. This was recorded as part of a webinar for GK Strategy and is shared across the 'Prevention is the new cure' network as a special deep dive interview. Comments welcome - podcast@stevebrine.com The Kings Fund - www.kingsfund.org.uk GK Strategy - www.gkstrategy.com Sponsored by Pulselight. F...

On the day the Commons Health & Social Care Select Committee publishes its' first report of the new Parliament - on social care - Steve and Sarah chat with Chair Layla Moran MP about what they describe as the "true cost on inaction". This episode, which is exclusively given over to the interview, discusses the Casey Review, the politics and the hope for meaningful action before the Labour Gove...

This week Steve & Sarah talk dentistry with Neil Carmichael from the Association of Dental Groups. We also hear about hitting small boys on the head with stones, Easter snacking and Steve's night-time grinding. In pod-surgery, the pair discuss health MOT's, a fall in adult vaping and WHO pandemic preparedness. podcast@stevebrine.com Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com -- W...

Health prevention royalty joins Steve & Sarah on the pod in an episode supported by the Alcohol Health Alliance (www.ahauk.org). Sir Ian Gilmore talks about a lifetime making the case for action on alcohol harm - for the NHS and our wider society. We talk the drinking culture in this country, the need for an alcohol strategy and the Swedish model! In pod surgery, the team talk men's health and...

Our first long form interview is with Richard Meddings as he steps down from being Chair of NHS England. In his first broadcast interview since leaving the role he talks candidly about how he got the job, the organisation's abolition and the risks of the top-down reorganisation that will follow. He also gives his advice to Wes Streeting, and the Ten Year Plan to come, gives a "punchy" response to...

For this episode, Steve and Sarah reflect on the abolition of NHS England and 50% cuts to Integrated Care Boards. They are joined by Phil Gowland from Whitworths to discuss healthy eating, how the food industry can be part of the solution - and Steve's bad snacking habits. Pod surgery considers Dad bods and trouble brewing for the Assisted Dying Bill. This episode is supported by Whitworths. www.w...

Sarah is back from her Indian adventure and the pair are joined by Richard Angell from the Terrence Higgins Trust (all the way from San Fran) to talk all things HIV including the impact of US Aid cuts. They also discuss changes at NHS England, giving blood and slushies! Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com -- WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507 Email: hello@preventionisthenewcure.com Ho...

This week sees Rare Diseases Day 2025 and to mark the moment, Steve and James speak with SMA UK boss Giles Lomax about spinal muscular atrophy and how we have the power to save lives. The pair also consider what is happening with the Government's Ten Year Plan, a worrying new piece of research from CRUK and look ahead to the NHS Winter crisis of 2026 - discuss! You can get in touch with the team v...

For this episode, Steve and Sarah are joined by respected neurologist, Dr Paul Jarman, from UCLH to talk about the prevention of dementia. In a thought provoking discussion, the pair discuss risk factors, lifestyle and of course the new drugs which promise a whole new chapter in the fight against Alzheimer's disease in particular. And Steve raises the thorny issue of mushrooms! Also covered this w...

Steve is joined by his brand new co-host, Dr Sarah Wollaston, for the first time. Sarah was an MP from 2010-2019 and, like Steve, is a former Chair of the Health Select Committee. The pair are joined by Professor Sir Simon Wessely to talk about the new Mental Health Bill going through Parliament and also cover President Trump and the WHO on World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day plus three of the b...

Steve's Conservative / Lib-Dem coalition colleague, Norman Lamb, co-hosts the first episode of 2025. The pair talk NHS winter crisis, social care 'reform, drug consumption rooms and 'sickness to prevention'. Email podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on social media for feedback and suggestions. Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com -- WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507 Email: hello@preven...

The original line-up returns as Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard joins Steve Brine for a Christmas special. We hear what Helen did next, talk cricket (!), healthcare in New Zealand and look back at 2024 in UK health and politics. And pod-surgery is back discussing caesarean births and soaring alcohol deaths. Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com -- WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507 Email: hello...

Dr Sarah Wollaston is a former MP and Chair of the Commons Health Select Committee. She joins Steve to discuss the fallout from MPs voting for the assisted dying / assisted suicide Bill last week, Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and it's a packed pod surgery. We also find out what wearable health vanity tech is on Steve's Christmas list. Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com -...

Steve's former Select Committee colleague, Labour MP Rachael Maskell, joins as co-host for this special episode which takes a deep dive into the most sensitive of subjects ahead of next week's key vote in the House of Commons. We also talk to Mark Brooks about men's health in this bumper length episode. Want to join the conversation? podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on our socials. Sponsored by P...

James Bethell returns as Steve's guest co-host to review the Budget they previewed last time. Did they find it to be a prevention focused health special from Rachel Reeves or something less? They deep dive into the statement and also discuss the new NESTA report as well as Covid/Flu jabs. Want to join the conversation? Email podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on our socials. Sponsored by Pulselight...

For the first episode of the post-Helen era, Steve is joined by guest co-host (and fellow traveller) Lord James Bethell for the 'Prevention is the new cure' podcast focused on health and politics. The pair discuss the Ten Year Plan 'listening exercise' launched this week, prostate cancer, Ozempic and whether next week's Budget will be a moment grasped - or an opportunity missed - on prevention for...

This week marks two huge milestones, with the 40th episode of 'Prevention is the new cure' and (sadly) Helen's last appearance as co-host alongside Steve before heading to New Zealand to embark on her new journey in the health world. Health news hasn't been quiet though and Steve and Helen delve into some big stories related to assisted dying and ovarian cancer as well as welcoming special 'guest'...

Helen and Steve take delve through a huge host of reports on the future of the NHS, that have been released in the past couple of weeks including the Darzi Review and from The Institute For Public Policy Research and Policy Exchange. As usual Pod Surgery picks up on some of the health headlines from the news this week. Want to ask a question for next episode? Drop a quick email to podcast@stevebri...

Steve and Helen take a deep dive into Lord Ara Darzi's review aimed at identifying the biggest barriers to improving waiting lists, giving their raw and honest assessment of the approach. Also in this week's episode our hosts discuss the launch of a national RSV vaccination programme and a fresh smoking bill hitting Parliament which will outline the new Labour Government's approach on the subject....

Steve and Helen fresh from their Summer holidays discuss the top new stories of the past couple of weeks, including the CQC, criticisms of GRAIL multi-cancer early detection tests, Mpox and puberty blockers among other things. Want to ask a question for next episode? Drop a quick email to podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on social media at 'Prevention is the new cure'. Sponsored by Pulselight. Fi...

Helen and Steve discuss the pay rises for junior doctors, with the Government hoping this may bring their industrial action to an end, and the signs of further strike trouble ahead with GPs. Joining the pod for a segment on smoking and vaping is Cancer Research UK's Ian Walker who shares his experiences from a recent trip to New Zealand and Australia and the charity's hopes for legislations in the...

Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, Gemma Peters, joins Helen and Steve on the pod to talk all things cancer and the amazing work that Macmillan Cancer do - including their famous coffee morning month each September. Helen and Steve also delve into the recent political developments in the United States and what they might mean for health on both sides of the ponds, the IT outage that rece...

Off the back of an historic election Helen and Steve take a deep dive into Labour's health policy and it's impact on prevention, the NHS and social care. They also cover their thoughts on the new Ministerial appointments including the new Secretary of State, Wes Streeting MP. Want ask a question for next episode? Drop a quick email to podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on social media at 'Preventio...

Helen and Steve pick apart the major parties' manifestos ahead of the General Election on Thursday 4th July, they share their hopes and ambitions for the next Government and what the impact might be on health and the NHS. Want ask a question for next episode? Drop a quick email to podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on social media at 'Prevention is the new cure'. Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out m...

With Men's Health Week in full force, Helen and Steve welcome Toby Freeman from the Robin Cancer Trust onto the pod to talk about cancer awareness and the charities work. Helen and Steve also cover a host of other stories that have featured in the news and political party manifestos over the past week. Want ask a question for next episode? Drop a quick email to podcast@stevebrine.com or find us on...