HealthCross Talks

Doctorsunemployed… while patients are treated in corridors. How did the NHS reach thispoint?In this episode of HealthCrosstalk, recorded at the BritishAssociation of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO)Conference 2025, we unpack one of the most urgent questionsfacing the UK healthcare system today:Why are both International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and UK graduates struggling for trainingjobs even as NHS waiting lists and workforce shortages remain high?Since this conversation was recorded, the UK government hasintroduced the Medical Training(Prioritisation) Bill, proposing priority for UK and Irish graduatesfor foundation and specialty training posts. As the bill moves throughParliament, the debate around IMGs and NHS workforce planning has become evenmore intense.In this conversation, we explore:·      The myth that IMGs are “flooding” the job market.·      Why doctors are unemployed despite NHS vacancies.·      The workforce planning failures building over the last decade.·      Corridor care, staff burnout, and doctors leaving the NHS.·      What solutions might actually work?With around 40% of doctors in the NHStrained overseas, the question is no longer simply about IMGsvs UK graduates.Is the NHSsleepwalking into a staffing crisis of its own making?Unpacking all this:We speak to:Consultant Physician, St George's University Hospital,LondonChair, BAPIO Institute for Health Research (BIHR) Tista Chakravarty GannonVice Chair, Asian Professionals National Alliance (APNA),UK🎧 Episode LIVE NOW:WATCH ON: https://www.youtube.com/@loveenatandonproductionsAUDIO SMART LINKplinkhq.com/i/1807736085  Prof. Indranil Chakravorty MBE

Doctors unemployed… while patients are treated in corridors. In this teaser, we bust the claim that “IMGs are flooding the job market” and look at why the narrative has shifted towards prioritising UK graduates. And as the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill fast-tracks through Parliament, this debate has become even more intense.So, here’s the bigger question: is the NHS sleepwalking into a staffing crisis of its own making? We unpack the myths, the money squeeze, and the workforce planning failures behind this breaking point and ask: what’s the real solution?We speak to:Prof. Indranil Chakravorty MBEConsultant Physician, St George's University Hospital, LondonChair, BAPIO Institute for Health Research (BIHR)Tista Chakravarty GannonVice Chair, Asian Professionals National Alliance (APNA), UK Full episode goes live Thursday 5 March. WATCH ON: https://www.youtube.com/@loveenatandonproductionsAUDIO SMART LINKplinkhq.com/i/1807736085This Episode was recorded  ⁨@bapio⁩  conference November, 2025.#healthcare #healthcrosstalks #immigrants #doctor #internationalmedicalgraduate #nhs

Will it reduce NHS waiting lists or create new risks?And if surgery is “robotic” … who is really in control?As the global AI community prepares to gather in New Delhitoday, the 16th of February for the next five days, we ask whathealthcare must get right before the hype overtakes the science. Filmed at the BAPIO Conference 2025, this firstepisode of Series 2 of HealthCross Talks: Making the NHSBetter brings together two leaders at the forefront of medicine and innovation:Prof Prokar Dasgupta OBE: one of the world’s leading robotic urological surgeons and recipient of the John Wickham Lifetime Achievement Award in Robotic Surgery (2023).Prof Ajay Shah: Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and BHF Professor of Cardiology at King’s College London.Inside the conversation:·       Why robotic surgery is not what most people think?·       What AI is genuinely good at — and where it still struggles?·       Whether AI can ease pressure on the NHS?·       Why public trust may be the biggest challenge of all?·       What healthcare could look like in ten years?As Prof Dasgupta prepares for the AI Summit in India, the bigger question remains:Are we ready to embrace AI responsibly without losing the human touch?Hope you enjoy the episode, Will AI Replace theDoctors? #AI #Healthcare #NHS #HealthTech #RoboticSurgery #HealthCrossTalks #AISummit 

The Big AI Myth?Are robots really operating on patients?Is AI about to replace doctors?For over 20 years, there has been a major misconception aboutrobotic surgery, that machines are doing the operation. In this teaser from HealthCross Talks- Series 2, filmed at BAPIO Conference2025, two leading experts challenge that myth and ask what AI is actually here to do in healthcare.Prof ProkarDasgupta OBE: one of the world’s leading robotic urological surgeons andrecipient of the John Wickham Lifetime Achievement Award in Robotic Surgery (2023)explains why robotic surgery is entirely human-controlled, and how AI can takeon the “boring” tasks that steal time from patient care.Joining him is Prof AjayShah, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences &Medicine and BHF Professor of Cardiology at King’s College London, on where AIgenuinely fits in the NHS and what still needs proving.This teaser lands as the global AI spotlight turns to New Delhi: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 runs from 16–20 February 2026,and Prof Dasgupta will be attending.Full episode goes live on 16 February 2026 !Also available on You Tube:https://www.youtube.com/@loveenatandonproductionsWhat do you think?Is AI replacing doctors or redefining what doctors do? 

We’ve seen the numbers. Too often, we scroll pastthem. But behind every statistic is a patient in pain — and a system atbreaking point.👉 1.5 million patients waitedover 12 hours last year.👉 Thousands in mental health crisis spend up to 3days in A&E.👉 4,000 patients a day are left in corridors forover 12 hours.A&E is never out of the headlines — but nowit’s about dangerous delays, avoidable deaths, and a service stretched to itslimits.In this urgent episode of HealthCross Talks,Dr. Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine,joins us to confront the uncomfortable truth about Britain’s A&E crisis —head-on. No fluff. Just facts. And a 3-point solution for the PrimeMinister. 👇💬 We discuss:Why 13% A&E beds are blocked by social care?What is the impact of delayed care?Will more money help A&E?📢 “We’re delivering poorcare at high cost. That’s not sustainable.” – Dr. BoyleBut there is hope — if we act with urgency andfollow the evidence.Watch the episode to hear Dr. Boyle’s clear, practical roadmap for turningthis crisis around.If you’ve ever waited in A&E — or worry aboutwhat might happen if you or someone you love ever has to — this is a conversation you can’t miss. 

1 in 4 NHS staff are from a BAME background — yetonly 7% reach senior leadership.In episode 4 of HealthCross Talks , Dr Ramesh Mehta OBE, founder of BAPIO, reveals why racial bias still blocks career growth — and how cultural training can transform patient care. For over 25 years, as president of the BritishAssociation of Physicians of Indian Origin, Dr Mehta has boldly challenged injustice — taking on the General Medical Council, when necessary, yet collaborating with them to drive lasting change. Since founding BAPIO in 1996, he has championed therights of BAME doctors and fought for a fairer, more inclusive NHS that delivers better care for all.A must-listen if cultural cohesion — or its absence — has ever shaped your NHS journey. Discover how barriers can be broken and true inclusion built. 

The NHS workforce crisis is real.In January 2025, over 60,000 patients in Englandwaited more than 12 hours in A&E after a decision to admit them—a record high, accounting for more than 15% of all admissions that month. Simultaneously, the NHS faces a severe staffing crisis, with over 112,000 vacancies, includingnearly 43,000 nursing and 10,000 medical posts as of March 2023 .​Sky NewsIn Episode 3 of HealthCross Talks, we speak withProfessor Stuart Walker, Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals Bristol, and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, to explore the daily pressures faced by NHS staff and discuss three critical actions the Prime Minister must take to address the workforce crisis.​Join us as we seek practical solutions from thoseon the frontline.  

With over 112,000 staff vacancies and 20,000doctors projected to miss out on specialty training this year (BMA), the NHS faces a critical moment. Workforce, infrastructure, and training challengesare now impossible to ignore.In this episode, we speak with Dr. ParagSinghal, consultant endocrinologist and Honorary Chairperson of BAPIO, about frontline solutions shared at the BAPIO 2024 Conference. As NHS management may shift back to the Department of Health, these insights from those on the ground couldn’t be more timely.🎧 Tune in April 17 — and have your say inthe comments.🔜 Coming up next on HealthCross Talks:We speak to Professor Stuart Walker, Chief Medical Officer at UniversityHospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, about real, workablesolutions to the NHS workforce crisis.#HealthCrossTalks #RebuildTheNHS #BAPIO2024#NHSCrisis #WorkforceDevelopment #HealthcareSolutions Thank you for joining in.Please follow and leave a comment.

With over 112,000 staff vacancies and 20,000doctors projected to miss out on specialty training this year (BMA), the NHS faces a critical moment. Workforce, infrastructure, and training challengesare now impossible to ignore.In this episode, we speak with Dr. Parag Singhal, consultant endocrinologist and Honorary Chairperson of BAPIO,about frontline solutions shared at the BAPIO 2024 Conference. As NHS management may shift back to the Department of Health, these insights from those on the ground couldn’t be more timely.🎧 Tune in on 17th April — andhave your say in the comments.🔜 Coming up next on HealthCross Talks:We speak to Professor Stuart Walker, Chief Medical Officer at UniversityHospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, about real, workablesolutions to the NHS workforce crisis.#HealthCrossTalks #RebuildTheNHS #BAPIO2024#NHSCrisis #WorkforceDevelopment #HealthcareSolutionsThank you for listening :)

What will it really take to fix the NHS—more funding, better training, listening to the frontline? In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to rebuild the #NHS —from workforce challenges to training, infrastructure, and the power of listening to those on the ground.We speak with Professor Parag Singhal —consultant endocrinologist, CEO of Bapio Training Academy , and Chair of the BAPIO 2024 Conference—who’s had his ear to the frontline and brings fresh insight into what rebuilding the NHS really means.🎧 Episode LIVE on the 18th April#HealthCrossTalks #NHSCrisis #BAPIO2024 #FrontlineVoices #RebuildTheNHS

The NHS is at a turning point.With NHS England set to be dissolved and control shifting to theDepartment of Health, questions around leadership, accountability, andmeaningful change are more pressing than ever.Around 7.5 million cases. 6.3 million uniquepatients waiting.Now, health workers could be sent door-to-door under drastic new NHSplans to tackle soaring sickness rates across England.Meanwhile, anxieties have resurfacedfollowing a BBC Breakfast question:"Is there any possibility this country might give the United Statesaccess to NHS medical records if that meant an end to the 10% tariff?"And although Health Secretary Wes Streeting responded firmly, “OurNHS is not for sale,” the very question has reignited concerns about thefuture of NHS data and its role in trade diplomacy.In this HealthCross Talks episode, we speakto the man at the centre of it all—Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NationalMedical Director of NHS England.We begin where Lord Darzi’s report leftoff—calling the NHS in “critical condition.”So we ask:Because while management may change, theproblems don’t disappear—and neither should the search for real solutions.🎧 Watch now. Join theconversation about making the NHS better.With thanks to BAPIO, BTA, and SBIfor making this vital dialogue possible. Please do subscribe and leave your thoughts :)