20: Reforming health care: reflections from a former health minister – with Lord Norman Warner

The Health Foundation podcast

The NHS is experiencing an unusual set of pressures at the moment, with waiting lists of 6.5 million, staff shortages, ambulance delays, long waits and much more.
Meanwhile, public satisfaction with the NHS has nosedived, according to the recent British Social Attitudes survey. While politicians acknowledge the challenges and repeat their support for the NHS, outriders on the political right are flexing muscles and calling for more fundamental reform – despite the ink only just drying on the last set of NHS reforms with the Health and Care Bill receiving royal assent.
Lord Norman Warner has been top civil servant, health minister from 2003 to 2007 and in the House of Lords for over 20 years, and has written about it all in his new book In Pursuit of Competence. He joins our Chief Executive Dr Jennifer Dixon to share his insights and reflect on what might be ahead.

Show notes

Norman Warner (2022) In Pursuit of Competence: A Life as a Westminster Nomad
NHS (2019) The NHS Long Term Plan
NatCen Social Research (2021) British Social Attitudes Survey 38
The Health Foundation (2021) Health and social care funding projections 2021
Department of Health and Social Care (2006) Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services
Duncan Campbell-Smith (2009) Follow the money: the Audit Commission, Public Money and the Management of Public Services, 1983-2008