In the fourth and final episode of "Rise," titled "Anger is an Energy," Craig Gould presents a deeply emotional yet uplifting message of hope to others facing similar battles.  This episode captures Craig's unwavering optimism, even as he confronts the next stage of his journey with cancer.  Reflecting on his experiences, Craig shares how he transformed anger and adversity into a driving force for positivity and resilience. He discusses where to find hope in the darkest times and how to harness inner strength.  Listeners will be moved by Craig's heartfelt advice and his abili ..read more

In this third episode of Rise, Craig Gould takes us through the intense and perilous journey of his second bone marrow transplant.  Facing near-fatal complications and a fight for survival, Craig's story is one of extraordinary resilience.  This episode sheds light on the physical and emotional challenges he endures, the impact on his mental health, and the unwavering support of his family, including his wife and children, through these testing times.  Join us for a powerful narrative that showcases the human spirit's capacity to find strength and humour amidst life's toughes ..read more

In the first episode of our Rise special episodes, a  good friend  Craig Gould shares the earth-shattering moment of his cancer diagnosis, its impact on his family, and the life-altering discussions with his wife. This episode not only explores their challenging journey through the NHS but also Craig’s near-death experiences and the flicker of hope that sustained them. This sets the stage for upcoming episodes, where Craig will delve into his treatments, personal battles, the power of support systems, and the invaluable lessons learned throughout his extraordinary 12-year journey. Su ..read more

In the first episode of our Rise special episodes, a  good friend  Craig Gould shares the earth-shattering moment of his cancer diagnosis, its impact on his family, and the life-altering discussions with his wife. This episode not only explores their challenging journey through the NHS but also Craig’s near-death experiences and the flicker of hope that sustained them. This sets the stage for upcoming episodes, where Craig will delve into his treatments, personal battles, the power of support systems, and the invaluable lessons learned throughout his extraordinary 12-year journey. Su ..read more

In the first episode of our Rise special episodes, Mike friend  Craig Gould shares the earth-shattering moment of his cancer diagnosis, its impact on his family, and the life-altering discussions with his wife. This episode not only explores their challenging journey through the NHS but also Craig’s near-death experiences and the flicker of hope that sustained them. This sets the stage for upcoming episodes, where Craig will delve into his treatments, personal battles, the power of support systems, and the invaluable lessons learned throughout his extraordinary 12-year journey. Support th ..read more

Remember that film with Bill and Jeff? You know the one, the gay revenge drama set in a U-boat. No? Never mind. In the latest episode, the boys consider whether Dominic Cummings was right to compare the government’s handling of the pandemic to sci-fi movie Independence Day, if Rosemary West would have done a good job of promoting the vaccine programme and what sort of health secretary Priti Patel would make.  But it’s not all doom and gloom. Baroness Harding makes a welcome return as theoretical NHS chief executive Dido Harding, and Baron Finkelstein of Pinner, the journalist and politica ..read more

In the latest episode of the NHS's most influential and serious podcast, hosts Mike, Julian and The Other Guy take the burning issues of the day and attempt to run with them, like three inept athletes at the start of a very bad olympic games.   What has forced rhubarb got to do with integrated care in west Yorkshire? Should patient directors be allowed to run airlines and railways? Why has John got an erection in the garden and should we have one in London to honour nurses? Find out the answers to all these questions and - if you can bear it - listen to our moving appeal for adoptive home ..read more

We planned to pack this week's Placemat with hard news, insightful commentary and vital information about the NHS. Instead you'll have to settle for some moderately ill-informed banter and a few jingles.  Dr Mike Smith, John Bennett and Julian Patterson discuss Matt Hancock's Chinese room service bill and the almost equally impressive cost of the test and trace system.  They also answer the question on everyone's minds: which member of the Loose Women team  will replace Simon Stevens as NHS chief executive?  A rare moment of gravitas is provided by special guest Joe Raffert ..read more

This week the team discuss Matt Hancock's denial that NHS staff faced shortages of PPE at the start of the pandemic. Then they go on national TV to thank each other. Our special guest Phil Hammond, Private Eye medical correspondent, comedian and doctor tells us about his own very special contribution to patient safety.  Meanwhile, Dr Pete Turton travels to the end of the rainbow to find what may or may not be a pot of gold. Plus, we exploit a child actor in our popular regular slot Virtue Signal of the Week. Warning: contains references to dogs, dogging and 1980s TV sitcoms.   Sup ..read more

In the first episode of The Placemat, we meet the diverse team of middle-aged, male presenters talking about the health service – which is a really terrible idea unless they’re Julian Patterson, John Bennett and Dr Mike Smith. And luckily they are. The first of what could be several episodes covers wetsuits in the boardroom, the problems caused by miserable clinicians and what Jeremy Hunt found out about the NHS after he stopped interfering with it. Also making their debut are the Virtue Signal of the Week and a guest spot by Twitter’s favourite doctor Pete Turton. And we hear from the first ..read more