The mess in the NHS
Political Fix
Financial Times
4.2 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 22 August 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
England’s NHS is in a ‘critical and deteriorating condition’ - those are the words of Lord Darzi who investigated the state of the NHS for the new Labour government last year. In response, Starmer unveiled a ten year plan to fix it focusing on delivering three big shifts in healthcare: hospital to community; analogue to digital; sickness to prevention but is it too little, too late, or is the problem just too big to fix?
In this week’s special episode, host George Parker is joined by our global health editor, Sarah Neville, deputy comment editor Miranda Green and FT economics commentator, Chris Giles, author of the weekly newsletter on Central Banks. Together they discuss some of the key problems facing the UK’s healthcare system, its financial situation and why it matters so much to both the public and politicians.
Follow: George on Bluesky @georgewparker.bsky.social or X @GeorgeWParker; Sarah Neville @SarahNev; Chris Giles @ChrisGiles; and Miranda Green @greenmiranda
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What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com
Want more? Free links:
Will the NHS 10-year plan fix England’s crumbling health service?
Wes Streeting says ‘jury is out’ over pay deal for doctors as talks continue
One in five UK doctors are considering quitting, regulator warns
Miranda's column - Ask Green: Is laughter the best medicine?
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Presented by George Parker, and produced by Clare Williamson. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. Manuela Saragosa is the acting co-head of audio.
Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We're seeking here not merely to provide services for those who are sick, but to make a healthy nation. |
| 0:08.0 | The scheme is comprehensive. |
| 0:10.0 | It's not only to help you when you're ill, but to help to keep you well. |
| 0:15.0 | And of course, the younger generation will stand to gain the biggest benefits of all. |
| 0:20.0 | There are 400,000 fewer people on waiting list than a 1997. |
| 0:24.9 | If the NHS is not working for the poorest in our society, then frankly, it is doing a poor job. |
| 0:30.9 | I have today left hospital after a week in which the NHS has saved my life. |
| 0:36.2 | That is the plan that we will launch today. |
| 0:38.1 | That is the change we will deliver. |
| 0:40.2 | The difference a Labour government makes. |
| 0:42.3 | The NHS on its feet, facing the future, |
| 0:46.2 | delivering fairness and security for working people. |
| 0:51.3 | It's been described as both the envy of the world and broken. |
| 0:55.3 | I'm talking of course about the UK's National Health Service. |
| 0:58.8 | Ever since 1948, when the country's system of universal free health provision was established, |
| 1:03.8 | the NHS has weathered multiple reorganisations, |
| 1:06.8 | boom and bus funding cycles, creaking infrastructure, |
| 1:09.9 | understaffing, doctor strikes and an ever bigger share of public expenditure. |
| 1:15.3 | The end result, public support has fallen to an all-time low. |
| 1:19.4 | A survey recently found that just 21% of people were satisfied with the NHS in 2024. |
| 1:26.0 | Which is why the government set out a 10-year plan aimed at taking the NHS |
| 1:29.8 | out of intensive care and onto the recovery ward. In this special episode of Political Fix |
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