70. Are we over-diagnosing mental illness?

70. Are we over-diagnosing mental illness?

Author: Steve Brine & James Bethell October 16, 2025 Duration: 49:52

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.


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: 96

Prevention is the New Cure
Podcast Episodes
94. Vaccines... and underpants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:00
Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell return for a deep dive into the intersection of health and politics. This week, they tackle the "Golden Child" of the pandemic, the vaccine rollout, and ask a piercin…
93. Prostate cancer’s moment of truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell dive into the "nihilism" of modern health politics. Is the current strategy just about keeping the NHS out of the headlines, or are we actually making the nation heal…
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…