Building hospitals and improving prevention — both are declared objectives of the government, but what is it doing, and what are the chances of success? This week’s HSJ Health Check podcast explores.

You can listen to the podcast on the web, or via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms, 

HSJ senior correspondent Nick Carding discusses the latest development in the government’s ambitious election pledge to build “40 new hospitals” — a £20bn construction framework from which providers can make capital purchases. 

And last week marked the publication of Sir Michael Marmot’s latest report on health inequalities. HSJ senior correspondent Annabelle Collins and correspondent Jack Serle take a closer look at the findings and discuss how they may — or may not — materialise into government policy.

Deputy editor Dave West unpicks how and why life expectancy and mortality rates have been faltering for several years.

Got feedback or something you would like us to discuss on HSJ Health Check? Contact annabelle.collins@wilmingtonhealthcare.com or @HSJAnnabelle.