In The Loop: the BIG Questions

Did you know that you are likely to die 20 years younger if you have a learning disability. Did you know that the great 10 year NHS Plan mentions learning disability 0 times? In their latest podcast Niall and Roy seek to understand the dire state of health support for individuals with learning disabilities and their families. Their guest is Professor Jim Blair, a nurse and academic who has campaigned relentlessly for the 1.5 million or so people with a learning disability in the UK. In a fascinating discussion, Jim lets us into a world that is not understood by professionals or the...

In the latest In the Loop Podcast, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham reveals that the government has agreed to appoint a new Health Commissioner who will be jointly accountable to the Mayor and to the government for health and social care services. 
The Mayor said that the Commissioner would have dual accountability, as the ICB chair for NHS purposes and as a health commissioner to the combined Greater Manchester authority. 
“I'm really excited about that.” he says.  “Finally it feels to me we're getting close here to (an integrated) model of commissioning, priority setting and direction setting. The rest...

Have older people got it too easy? In their latest ‘In the Loop’ podcast, Niall and Roy have a fascinating exchange with Paul Farmer CBE, the leader of Age UK, Britian’s largest charity campaigning and providing services for older people.

Little more than a generation ago, pensioners were seen as among the poorest and most vulnerable groups; today the vast majority have never had it so good. Yet Paul argues that is a dangerous narrative which ignores the two million or so older people who either experience poor health, financial insecurity or lone...

Niall and Roy in conversation with Nicola Ranger, the General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing

In the latest podcast, Niall and Roy delve into the besieged world of nursing with the leader of the world's largest nursing union, Nicola Ranger.

In a frank exchange, Nicola reflects on the recruitment and retention crisis, the fact that nurses spend too much time on pointless tasks, the unprecedented levels of low morale, and the possibility of strike action. And she says there is an urgent need to reform nurse education, including, in her personal...

The British Medical Association are never far away from the headlines but what is their real game? In their latest In the Loop podcast, Niall and Roy have an in depth discussion with Dr Tom Dolphin the BMA chair who leads one of the most powerful trade unions in the country, if not the most powerful.
In a revealing exchange Tom reflects on the growing militancy of doctors and their willingness to strike, as well as the changes affecting General Practice which for some GPs is making their lives less satisfying and more transactional. But he insists the...

In the Loop – the BIG Questions 

Niall Dickson CBE and Roy Lilley with their latest guest David Gregson founder of BeeWell

To start 2026 Niall and Roy make a departure from their usual management and political interviews and explore the worrying state of our young people.  The awful reality that youngsters in the UK appear to be unhappier than nearly all their European counterparts. 

Their first guest of the New Year is David Gregson an entrepreneur and philanthropist has embarked on an ambitious and innovative programme called Beewell. Its aim is to i...