The Provider Podcast 

In the latest episode of the NHS Providers podcast, host Adam Brimelow focuses on patient flow. This has been a topic of interest for Emergency Services Times, so it is good to hear others talk about how to improve the patient journey throughout the health care system, often starting with the emergency response.  

NHS Providers is a membership organisation for NHS organisations and that includes ambulance services. Adam Brimelow is Director of Communications and brings in other members of NHS Providers team to discuss key issues and intersperses them with interviews.  

In the latest episode, case studies in the newly published Providers Deliver: Patient Flow report come alive, as those involved talk about their work – including one from Yorkshire Ambulance Service – tackling issues and providing solutions.  

Ambulance trusts face the challenge of dealing with many Integrated Care Systems and in this episode we learn about the benefits of bringing in population and data analytics expertise to create a clear picture of demand for ambulance services across the region. The evidence in this case study points at early interventions through prevention which seem obvious but don’t always happen and align with what Patricia Hewitt advocates in her report into the early days of the Integrated Care Systems.  

Now in its 11^th series, the Provider podcast has firmly found its feet with high production levels and mixes up its approach with the ‘One thing I would do’ episodes in the last series. These are well worth listening to as key players from the sector grapple with and unpick the wicked problems they face.  

We hear from former Bedfordshire Chief Fire Officer Jagtar Singh and now Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust chair as he explores his idea to avoid and prevent inequalities if he were to take control of health and social care for the day. The intersection of his fire and health experience makes this a fascinating listen.