90. 'Digital is not an individual athlete' - LIVE from Re:wired

90. 'Digital is not an individual athlete' - LIVE from Re:wired

Author: Steve Brine & James Bethell March 26, 2026 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 significant national IT infrastructure and data projects across the UK Public Sector.


Former Health Ministers Steve Brine and Lord Bethell are at the NEC among four thousand digital health leaders with very special guests and all the usual insights into how decisions are made.


They begin with the huge response to last week's episode - 'meningitis horror' - and discuss a new vaccine commission getting underway from the Royal Society for Public Health. And the pair consider the new Neighbourhood Health Framework, finally published last week which is the delivery mechanism for the entire ten-year health plan as told to by NHS boss Jim Mackey when he was on the podcast last month.


And they're joined by Sonia Patel - Interim Government Chief Technology Officer (and former NHS England CTO) - as well as Helen Clifton, Executive Director of Products & Platforms at NHS England. Helen is responsible for how the NHS shows up in peoples’ pockets and whether digital actually delivers prevention.


The discussion covers:


  • The £7.4 Billion NHS digital investment: Where is the money actually going?
  • Martha’s Rule: How one mother’s campaign is saving hundreds of lives from sepsis.
  • The Vaccination Gap: Why adult vaccine access is the next big public health challenge.
  • Consumer Health: Will the NHS App ever be as good as your banking app or a Whoop band?
  • The Neighborhood Health Framework: Is it a delivery mechanism or just a fantasy?


Connect with the Podcast: 📧 Email: preventionisthenewcurepodcast@gmail.com 📱 WhatsApp: 0333 4046507 ✅ Subscribe for weekly insights from the heart of health politics!


This episode is produced by Shortbread Media / Calum Macdonald with on-site technician services provided by Digital Health Re:wired courtesy of Aztec Events.


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
73. Budget health speculation and long term conditions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:48
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.D…
72. Does prevention really save money? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:07
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 rece…
71. Live episode at The Pharmacy Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
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 P…
70. Are we over-diagnosing mental illness? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 t…
69. CARE Show live [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:34
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.…
68. Labour Conference special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:51
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 worker…
67. Sleep as a key pillar of health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
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 Men…
66. Penny Dash deep dive interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:06
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…
65. Golf & Health special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:42
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 playe…
64. Tony Blair Institute on the NHS App [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:11
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 f…