113. Jeremy Hunt on the future, Burnham and his Whoop

113. Jeremy Hunt on the future, Burnham and his Whoop

Author: Steve Brine and guests September 10, 2026 Duration: 46:47

Former Chancellor and longest-serving Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt joins Steve Brine and James Bethell.


In this episode, Jeremy Hunt breaks down the harsh economic realities facing the NHS, why throwing more money at healthcare won't fix it, and what a future Conservative health strategy must look like under Shadow Health Secretary Damian Hinds. The trio dives into structural reforms, realigning local financial incentives, shifting focus from acute hospital care to prevention, and using AI and single patient electronic records to drive productivity.


Key Topics Covered:


The Fiscal Envelope: Why Labour and Conservatives both face strict spending limits on healthcare.


Fixing Systemic Incentives: Shifting focus from 18-month operational targets to long-term prevention.


The Power of Data: How electronic health records (EPR) and AI can target high-cost care upstream.


Social Care & Political Realities: Andy Burnham’s ambitions vs. fiscal resistance.


Regulating AI in Healthcare: Balancing rapid innovation with patient safety.

Email: podcast@stevebrine.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Prevention is the New Cure is a health and politics podcast hosted by former UK Health Ministers Steve Brine & James Bethell. Drawing on their experience inside government, they unpack how political decisions shape the NHS, public health, fitness, and everyday wellbeing. Each week, listeners can expect thoughtful conversations on prevention - from tackling chronic disease and obesity to mental health, social care, and the future of healthcare funding. With candid reflections, behind-the-scenes insight, and expert guests, the show explores what needs to change so that staying well becomes as important as treating illness. Whether you follow health policy, work in the system, or just care about living longer, healthier lives, this is your place to listen episodes that challenge, inform, and inspire.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Prevention is the New Cure
Podcast Episodes
92. The Junk food ad ban GIANT loophole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
In episode 92 of THE health and politics podcast: Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell discuss the brand new junk food ban, and how fast food companies and others are ALREADY f…
91. Why Willpower Fails Against Obesity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:10
Is the UK's health system upside down? In this episode of 'Prevention is the New Cure,' former Health Minister Lord James Bethell and Tony Blair Institute’s Dr. Charlotte Refsum sit down with Professor Susan Jebb (Chair…
90. 'Digital is not an individual athlete' - LIVE from Re:wired [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:05
Episode 90 of THE health and politics podcast, comes LIVE from Digital Health Re:wired!This episode is sponsored by MASTEK; a company with a 25-year history of working with the NHS and has been trusted to deliver signifi…
89. Meningitis horror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:56
In Episode 89, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell dive into the urgent headlines shaping British healthcare. From the tragic Meningitis B outbreak in Kent to the "productivity paradox" of AI in hospital…
88. Drugs in Space! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:02
In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord James Bethell join from around the world: James from Blackpool and Steve from North Macedonia.They dive into the looming GP cont…
87. Strictly fund the NHS - and prevention! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:19
The £200bn Question: Why Isn’t the NHS Getting Healthier?In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell take analyse the status quo of UK health policy. With NHS spen…
86. Jabs payments missing the point [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:05
Can we "prescribe" our way out of a national health crisis?In this episode, former Health Ministers James Bethell and Steve Brine are joined by Charlotte Refsum (Head of Health at the Tony Blair Institute) to dissect the…
85. Health tech good news and NHS prescribing puppies? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:42
In this episode of Prevention is the New Cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell chat to Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund.Sarah Woolnough argues that health is not made in hospitals…
83. Can the NHS deliver its new National Cancer Plan? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:27
A special episode this week of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure, as Ministers finally publish the National Cancer Plan.Steve & James talk exclusively to NHS National Clinical Director, Professo…