HSJ Health Check

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Burnham’s plan to save billions for the NHS

July 31, 2026

This week we’re talking about the latest on neighbourhood health, and what Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s push for social care reform means for the NHS. As ministers launch a major review of adult social care, we ask whether the shift could boost the neighbourhood health agenda, or set it back. Will it reshape NHS and council funding, and could it deliver the NHS savings Mr Burnham says must be considered before any tax rises?We also talk more about neighbourhood health contracts and their slo...

The ICB redundancy row

July 24, 2026

This week we discuss why a £300,000 exit payment to a former ICB CEO has proved so controversial, and how NHS England has tried to justify the move.We also look at what the row reveals about the wider pressure ICBs are under, as they face deep cuts and continued uncertainty over their future role.This includes the questionable use of public money in wider ICB restructures, which are in many cases forced to pay for redundancies they may one day regret.And with devolution to mayoral strategic a...

The doctor who's fought maternity scandals for a decade

July 17, 2026

Now the dust has settled on two major maternity reviews, HSJ Health Check is joined by Dr Bill Kirkup to discuss what happens next.Dr Kirkup has been investigating maternity scandals for over a decade, including Morecambe Bay and East Kent. We discuss how the sector has responded to the tranche of recommendations, whether a public inquiry is needed, and how leaders should respond when things go wrong in their organisations. He also touched on more contentious issues, warning that the current ...