In Episode 104, former health ministers Lord Bethell and Steve Brine tackle one of the NHS's most urgent crises as they examine a damning review into maternity services in England.

Following Baroness Valerie Amos' report and the latest findings into avoidable failures in maternity care, they ask: Why does the NHS continue to repeat the same mistakes despite hundreds of recommendations? And will appointing a national Maternity Commissioner finally deliver lasting change—or simply create another layer of bureaucracy?

As millions of people begin using AI chatbots for emotional support, Steve and James also discuss artificial intelligence and mental health - debating whether AI could become the front door to mental healthcare, helping people seek support earlier or whether we're underestimating the risks of relying on machines for our wellbeing.

Finally, inspired by one mother's powerful campaign following the loss of her son to melanoma, they discuss why prevention starts with the simplest interventions. Should free sunscreen dispensers become standard at sports clubs, public spaces and outdoor venues as Britain adapts to hotter summers and rising rates of skin cancer?

If you want to learn more about Sharon Scrivens' suncream campaign, read more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrg5p9x79jo

💡 Prevention is the new cure. New episodes drop every Thursday!

Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com

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In Episode 103, former health ministers Lord Bethell and Steve Brine break down a historic week in UK politics and healthcare.

Following Andy Burnham’s by-election victory and Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation, they ask: Is Burnham on an unstoppable path to becoming the first former Health Secretary turned Prime Minister? Plus, they dissect controversial comments from the Chair of NHS England, Penny Dash, on how AI, smartphones, and robotics will fundamentally replace routine doctor visits.

We also take a look at the newly established "NHS Online" - the UK's first truly national digital hospital trust. Could this completely dismantle 75 years of traditional, building-bound healthcare?

Lastly, as the UK swelters in a major summer heatwave, Steve and James debate the scientific benefits of the European afternoon nap (siesta) and how the UK needs to climate-adapt.

💡 Prevention is the New Cure. New episodes drop every Thursday!

Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com

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WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507

Email: hello@preventionisthenewcure.com

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

The social media ban for under-16s is officially here - but can government actually enforce it?

In Episode 102 of the health and politics podcast, Prevention is the new cure, former Health Ministers Steve Brine and James Bethell dive into Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s landmark announcement. From the technical realities of age verification to the political motivations behind the ban, they break down what this means for parents, tech giants like Meta and TikTok, and the future of public health.

Plus, a massive game-changer in the obesity crisis: the MHRA has approved the UK’s first oral GLP-1 tablet (Wegovy pill) for weight loss. Will a daily tablet shift our public psychology away from "medicalised" injections and into a mass-rollout era?

James also reports live from the HLTH conference in Amsterdam on the massive health innovation class divide, what the US-based "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) movement gets right about food policy, and why an NHS cybersecurity breach is a matter of clinical patient safety—not just an IT glitch.

💡 Prevention is the new cure - every Thursday, we land at the intersection of health, policy, and politics.

💬 CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:

📧 Email us: hello@preventionisthenewcure.com

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Produced by Calum Macdonald at Shortbread Media.

#KeirStarmer #SocialMediaBan #WegovyPill #NHSCyberSecurity #PublicHealth #HealthPolicy #MAHAMovement

Sponsored by Pulselight. Find out more at pulselight.com

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WhatsApp us: 0333 404 6507

Email: hello@preventionisthenewcure.com

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