The King's Fund podcast

After months of waiting, the government’s 10 Year Health Plan is finally here. But with a health and care system at breaking point, does the government’s plan offer hope to staff, patients, and the public that things will get better? In this first episode in a new podcast series from The King's Fund, Siva Anandaciva [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/our-people/siva-anandaciva], Charlotte Wickens [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/our-people/charlotte-wickens] and Sarah Arnold [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/our-people/sarah-arnold] discuss what's in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, what it hopes to achieve and what we can expect to see in the coming weeks and months. You might also be interested in: *  Truly fit for the future? The 10 Year Health Plan Explained [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/ten-year-health-plan-explained] (long read) * 10 Year Health Plan - what bold choices and actions are needed to deliver transformational change? [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/ten-year-health-plan] (event) *  The King's Fund's response to the 10 Year Health Plan [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/press-releases/specific-topics-10-year-plan-for-health] (press statement) This episode was edited by Bespoken Media.

How connected are the health and faith sectors? And is there untapped potential in the faith sector to support people’s health and wellbeing? Back in January, Siva Anandaciva [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/about-us/our-people/siva-anandaciva] sat down with the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, to explore her career journey from Chief Nursing Officer to Bishop, how her faith has informed her work, and the role that faith groups can play in tackling health inequalities. Related content: * Tackling inequalities: mission possible? [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/health-inequalities] (in-person conference, 6 May 2025) * Tackling health inequalities: seven priorities for the NHS [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/tackling-health-inequalities-seven-priorities-nhs] (long read) * What are health inequalities? [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/what-are-health-inequalities] (long read)

From corridor care to staff morale, winter is never an easy time for the NHS. But what is it like for staff working in urgent and emergency care during this time of year, and has it always been this way? Ruth Robertson is joined by Kelly Ameneshoa, Emergency Medicine Doctor, and Charlotte Wickens, Policy Advisor, to find out. They discuss how winter impacts patient care, what could make this winter different to others and what the first few months of a Labour Government might tell us about its approach moving forward. Related content: * The number of hospital beds (nutshell) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/data-and-charts/number-hospital-beds] * Public satisfaction with A&E at an all-time low: reflections of an A&E doctor (blog) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/public-satisfaction-ae-reflections] * What does the Autumn Budget 2024 mean for health and care? (long read) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/autumn-budget-2024-health-and-care] * The government's 10-year plan for health and care (project) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/governments-long-term-plan-health-and-care]

What impact has the first 100 days of the new Labour government had on health and care? Join Andrew McCracken, Charlotte Wickens and Siva Anandaciva as they explore what's happened, what's surprised them and what might be next. Related content * Government will have to make tough choices at upcoming budget (press release) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/press-releases/upcoming-budget-government-decisions] * The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, delivered his first health and care speech since taking office at The King’s Fund annual conference this morning [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/press-releases/prime-minister-first-health-care-speech-since-taking-office] * The Darzi review of NHS performance signals why radical change is needed (blog) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/darzi-review-nhs-performance-radical-change]

What is co-production? What does it mean to have a health and care system that prioritises equity, inclusion and the voices of service users? In our new podcast episode, Jo Vigor is joined by Clenton Farquharson CBE, who shares his leadership journey and reflects on how his personal experience of navigating life as a wheelchair user has led him to a career advocating for marginalised voices and campaigning for meaningful change. He also explores why the new government should consider this moment as an opportunity to reimagine the health and care system. Related content: * Listening to people and communities – the change we need (event) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/events/listening-people-communities] * The Darzi review of NHS performance signals why radical change is needed (blog) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/darzi-review-nhs-performance-radical-change] * Making patient experience a priority (blog) [https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/long-reads/making-patient-experience-priority]