41: Two commissions on the future of the NHS – with Rachel Sylvester and Parveen Kumar

The Health Foundation podcast

Given the huge pressures on the NHS it's perhaps inevitable people ask, what's the future of it?

The NHS and social care are struggling to deliver care and support to people who need it. With services so stretched, waiting times at record highs, public satisfaction falling and a demoralised workforce, is now the time to ask some fundamental questions about the NHS?
In the past month, two independent commissions on the future of the NHS have reported – the Times Commission in early February, and the first of several papers from the BMJ Commission at the end of January.
We speak to the commission chairs about what they found out and what they’d like to see future governments prioritise on health. And given the tight squeeze on public funds, what will it take to truly put the NHS on a sustainable footing?
To discuss, our Chief Executive Jennifer Dixon is joined by:

• Rachel Sylvester, political columnist at The Times, and chair of the Times Health Commission.
• Parveen Kumar, Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Education at Queen Mary, University of London, and co-chair of the BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS.