PodcastsGovernmentPrevention is the New Cure

Prevention is the New Cure

Steve Brine & James Bethell
Prevention is the New Cure
Latest episode

96 episodes

  • Prevention is the New Cure

    94. Vaccines... and underpants

    23/04/2026 | 55 mins.
    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 piercing question: Why can the UK system innovate in a crisis but remain "analogue" for chronic disease?

    In this episode:
    The Allergy Boom: Lord Bethell shares his personal battle with hay fever and discusses the launch of the new UK Allergy Strategy.
    Mandelson & Geopolitics: A frank discussion on Lord Mandelson’s appointment, Chinese influence in UK Life Sciences, and the "distractions" slowing down government.
    The Vaccine Wrap: Analysis of the COVID Inquiry’s praise for the rollout, the decline in childhood MMR uptake, and the breakthrough RSV jab for pregnant women.
    RFK Jr & MAGA Health: James previews his upcoming trip to the US to investigate the "Make America Healthy Again" movement.
    The NHS Model Debate: Seb Rees from the IPPR joins the show to discuss whether switching to a European-style insurance system would actually fix the NHS.
    Plus, did School PE ruin exercise for a generation?

    Subscribe for weekly insights into the future of health!
    WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    93. Prostate cancer’s moment of truth

    16/04/2026 | 55 mins.
    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 healthier?
    In this episode:

    The School Food Revolution: Why Jamie Oliver and Henry Dimbleby might be skeptical of the government's latest "ban" on nuggets.
    Prostate Cancer Screening: Oliver Kemp (Prostate Cancer Research) explains why the UK is lagging behind Europe and how we can flip the "red to green" on the screening model.
    The GP Debate: Do GPs need to stop being "country doctors" and start being "risk managers"?

    Plus, Charlotte Refsum reports from The Academy of Medical Sciences and we hear from:
    Sir Harpal Kumar, Chief Scientific Officer & President International at GRAIL.
    Emma Greenwood, AMS Policy Director.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    92. The Junk food ad ban GIANT loophole

    09/04/2026 | 49 mins.
    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 finding loopholes.

    They also chat about:
    The rollout of Wegovy on the NHS for people with cardiovascular disease, and how this could prevent secondary heart attacks.
    The NHS 'brain drain' and job losses for 1,300 members of staff.

    Later, Steve and James are joined by DJ partners Tina Woods and Yukari, Co-Founders of Longevity Raves.

    They discuss:
    What actually is a longevity rave?
    The new concept of a Joy Score, and how that might be useful from a medical point of view.
    Why social connection is an often forgotten but important part of general practise.
    Why James is pro rave?

    Connect with the Podcast:
    📧 Our NEW Email: [email protected]
    📱 WhatsApp: 0333 4046507
    ✅ Subscribe for weekly insights from the heart of health politics!

    This episode is produced by Shortbread Media / Tim Pont and Calum Macdonald
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

    91. Why Willpower Fails Against Obesity

    02/04/2026 | 1h
    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 of the Food Standards Agency) to discuss why the UK is failing to prevent chronic disease.

    From the "socialisation of acute care" to the biological reality of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, we dive deep into the policy failures and industrial barriers keeping Britain sick. Professor Jebb explains why "willpower" is a myth in a toxic food environment and why the government needs to stop "leaving the food system to Tesco."

    Connect with the Podcast: 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 WhatsApp: 0333 4046507 ✅ Subscribe for weekly insights from the heart of health politics!
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Prevention is the New Cure

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

    26/03/2026 | 48 mins.
    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: [email protected] 📱 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.

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About Prevention is the New Cure

Former Health Ministers, Steve Brine and James Bethell, come together to discuss all things health and politics.Twitter:@PreventionPodcEmail:[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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