Leading Improvement in Health and Care podcast: What does NHS England's Quality Strategy mean in practice (14 July 2026)

Summary

In this episode of Leading Improvement in Health and Care, Penny Pereira speaks with Professor Frankie Swords, National Medical Director for NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, and Sarah Barley-McMullen, strategic lived experience partner for NHS England and Chair of Long Covid SOS.

They explore why quality must become the NHS’s guiding principle, encompassing safe and clinically effective care as well as a positive patient experience. The conversation considers the role of leadership and organisational culture, the use of meaningful data and shared metrics, reducing unwarranted variation, and making it easier for people throughout the health and care system to do the right thing.

Sarah brings a vital lived-experience perspective, arguing that quality cannot be understood through performance data alone. It can be felt in whether care is joined up, whether patients are heard and involved in decisions, and whether their experience gives them the confidence to seek help and remain engaged in their care.

Related reading on the hub:

• Patient Safety Learning’s initial response to the Quality strategy for NHS-funded care in England