In this episode of Health on the Line, we’re turning our attention to the mounting financial pressures facing ICBs and NHS trusts as demand for services continues to rise.

The NHS Alliance has produced a report, Targets and Trade-offs: the Cost of NHS Finance and Performance Ambitions in 2026/27, which draws on surveys, interviews and ongoing feedback from leaders to build a picture of what’s happening in the system.

To discuss the report’s findings, our host Adam Brimelow is joined by David Williams, deputy director of policy at the NHS Alliance.

Together they delve into how NHS leaders are being asked to balance growing demand, tight financial envelopes and ambitious reform agendas, such as the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.

Adam is also joined by ‘Foluke Ajayi, chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, who shares her thoughts on balancing financial constraints with delivering quality care, redesigning services and navigating both immediate pressures and long-term transformation goals.

Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast, produced by HealthCommsPlus.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is public confidence in the NHS finally turning a corner, or is this just a temporary lift?

In this episode of Health on the Line, we’re diving into the latest British Social Attitudes survey and what it reveals about how the public feels about the NHS in 2025.

Matthew Taylor is joined by Dan Wellings, senior fellow at The King’s Fund and Leonora Merry, director of communications and external affairs at The Nuffield Trust, to unpack the data behind a modest rise in NHS satisfaction.

The trio discuss how the headline improvement perhaps obscures a more complex picture: persistent dissatisfaction, stark generational divides and ongoing frustration with access to care.

They also explore why waiting times and access rather than quality of care remain the biggest drivers of public opinion, how the COVID-19 legacy continues to shape perceptions and why, despite the latest BSA results, optimism about the future of the NHS has hit record lows.

We also hear from The NHS Alliance’s deputy chief executive, Sarah Walter and director of communications, Daniel Reynolds, who discuss the new organisation, outlining its ambition to provide a stronger, unified voice for members across the health system.

Health on the Line is an NHS Alliance podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Health on the Line, Matthew Taylor is joined by Dean Royles, interim chief executive of NHS Employers, to discuss the latest NHS Staff Survey results and look at what they tell us about the reality of working in today’s health service.

Together, they discuss how the survey highlights the scale of pressure facing the workforce, from rising burnout and falling morale to a decline in staff recommending the NHS as a place to work.

They also touch on some of the survey’s more encouraging signs, including improvements in compassionate leadership and support from line managers, and offer tips on how senior leadership can interpret the survey to understand localised issues.

We end by looking at what NHS leaders could do next to strengthen staff engagement and understand the link between workforce experience and organisational performance.

We also hear from our own Jack Sansum, assistant director of neighbourhood health, to break down the government’s recently published Neighbourhood Health Framework.

Health on the Line is an NHS Confederation podcast, produced by Health Comms Plus.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.