How did we get here? Explaining the news

NHS crisis: how can we fix Britain's health service?

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Episode notes

By now, you'll be familiar with headlines warning that Britain's National Health Service, the NHS, is at "breaking point" - still feeling the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with chronic staff shortages, long waiting times and the recent wave of strike action.

So how do we fix it?

Is it just a question of more money, beyond the £160 billion a year the government spends already - or is the system as it is no longer fit for purpose?

To answer these questions we're joined by Alan Milburn, a former UK Health Secretary under the Tony Blair government, who has spent decades working in health policy.

 

How Did We Get Here? Explaining the News is a podcast from Channel 5 News. Join host Andy Bell as he explains the world's biggest news stories through interviews with politicians, experts, and analysts. Produced by Silvia Maresca.