HealthTech Hour is a leading healthtech podcast exploring the people and technologies transforming healthcare. Each episode features conversations with healthtech founders, healthcare leaders, clinicians, investors and innovators building the future of digital health, AI, diagnostics, medtech and healthcare innovation. Whether you're a founder, investor, healthcare professional or simply passionate about health technology, HealthTech Hour brings insights from the people shaping the future of healthcare. 🌍 Listeners in over 50 countries. 🎙 New episode bi-weekly. 🗣 Hosted by Steve Roest.
What would meaningful NHS reform actually look like—and why is it so difficult to discuss? In this episode of Health Tech Hour , Steve Roest speaks with veteran health journalist Paul Gallagher about the pressures facing the NHS, including waiting-list backlogs, workforce shortages, delayed hospital discharges, social-care gaps and the political sensitivity surrounding reform. Paul draws on two decades of healthcare reporting to examine why the NHS repeatedly falls into short-term crisis management, how public expectations compare with the amount the UK is willing to spend, and why discussions about restructuring are so often reduced to fears of privatisation. The conversation also explores the role technology can play in moving care from hospitals into communities, improving prevention and making services easier to access. Steve shares how a single SMS offering an at-home health check generated 80% uptake among previously unresponsive patients , illustrating how service design, not patient apathy, can determine engagement. They discuss: Why social-care shortages keep medically fit patients in hospital How fragmented care and workforce vacancies create system-wide delays Whether technology can meaningfully reduce pressure on NHS staff Why convenience matters for preventative-health participation The difference between private delivery and charging patients Why NHS reform debates often default to comparisons with the US What the UK could learn from healthcare systems in Europe and Japan Whether higher taxation could support better public services How politics and the media reinforce short-term decision-making Paul Gallagher is a health journalist with more than 20 years of experience, including a decade as health correspondent at the i Paper and work for publications including The Times , The Telegraph and The Mirror . He is also contributing to an Alzheimer’s Disease International report focused on clinical trials. Health Tech Hour features the founders, clinicians, journalists and system leaders changing healthcare in the UK and beyond.
The NHS has invested billions in digital records - but what if the real breakthrough isn't more software, it's what sits on top? In this episode of HealthTech Hour, Tom shares how a naval architecture degree and a chance consultancy project peeling onions for Domino's Pizza led him to co-found DrDoctor in 2012 - and why 13 years later, he believes outpatient care as we know it shouldn't exist. We explore: why hospital appointments haven't fundamentally changed since the 1600s, how DrDoctor has powered nearly 200 million NHS appointments for 37 million patients, why 40% of outpatient activity could be delivered at home, how agentic AI is now transforming how patients interact with the NHS, why EPRs alone don't deliver the savings the NHS was promised, the shift from digitisation to optimisation in NHS strategy, why every CEO of a software business needs to embrace AI, the paradox of the most-wanted job being a doctor while most doctors want to leave, how UK health tech founders can build lasting relationships with the NHS Tom also explains how DrDoctor is becoming the agentic operating system for the NHS — integrating deeply with EPRs, powering the NHS App, and building the AI tools that free up clinicians to focus on patient care. Whether you're a healthcare professional, founder, investor, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this conversation offers a rare inside view of what really needs to change to make the NHS fit for the future. #HealthTech #DigitalHealth
The NHS needs thousands more GPs - but what if the solution isn't training more doctors, but reconnecting qualified clinicians already outside the workforce? In this episode of HealthTech Hour, Julian shares how a personal diagnosis of a bicuspid aortic valve sparked his journey into healthcare and why he believes preventative care should be far more accessible. We explore: why the NHS workforce crisis continues to worsen, why thousands of GPs are leaving the profession, how remote UK-qualified doctors can support primary care, the future of global healthcare workforces, why AI won't replace doctors anytime soon, the challenges of building healthtech companies in the UK, the role of prevention in reducing long-term healthcare costs, what the NHS 10-Year Plan means for healthcare innovation Julian also explains how Asterix Health is helping GP practices manage complex clinical workloads, reduce administrative burden, and improve patient care by reconnecting experienced doctors with the healthcare system. Whether you're a healthcare professional, founder, investor, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this conversation offers a fascinating look at one of the biggest challenges facing health systems today. #HealthTech #DigitalHealth
This week on HealthTech Hour, Steve sits down with Demi Radeva, CEO and co-founder of Across, who is helping UK health tech founders enter and succeed in the United States. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning the world's largest US payer, the London School of Economics, and a teaching role at the University of Minnesota, Demi brings a rare dual perspective - she's lived inside both health systems, studied how they finance themselves, and built and co-founded multiple digital health ventures of her own. Demi is particularly passionate about helping founders follow the money - understanding reimbursement, structuring ROI, and accessing the right buyers across the 1,100 decision-making bodies that shape US healthcare. We get into what that looks like in practice - why UK health tech consistently brings stronger evidence to the table, how to access programmatic spend when no billing code exists, and why making your customer money beats saving them money every time. Outside of work, Demi is shaped by her own immigration journey from Bulgaria to the US, an experience that informs how she thinks about culture, incentives, and what it actually takes to move between two very different systems. A sharp, practical conversation with one of the leading voices helping UK health tech founders take their first serious step into the American market. Follow HealthTech Hour for more conversations with the founders, operators and builders shaping the future of UK health and tech.
This week on HealthTech Hour, Steve sits down with Sam Fay, CEO of SISU Health, who is leading the mission to make preventative health more accessible across the UK. With 25 years of experience in strategic transformation and senior leadership, Sam has a strong track record of scaling organisations and delivering measurable impact - and she brings that operator's lens to one of the biggest challenges in healthcare today: shifting the system from treating illness to preventing it. Sam is particularly passionate about using innovation and data to tackle health inequalities and improve outcomes at scale, and we get into what that looks like in practice - what's actually working, where the system gets stuck, and how SISU is building for reach rather than just reach for those who already engage with healthcare. Outside of work, Sam is a keen outdoor adventurer - long walks with her Ridgeback, skiing, and coastal escapes when the diary allows. A practical, grounded conversation with one of the leaders putting preventative health within reach of the people who need it most. Follow HealthTech Hour for more conversations with the founders, operators and builders shaping the future of UK health and tech.
Rachel Murphy launched the NHS App and sold multiple businesses. Now she helps other founders do the same. In this episode of HealthTech Hour, we sit down with Rachel Murphy — founder of The Grafter and one of the UK's most trusted operators when it comes to building real business value. Rachel has grown, scaled and sold multiple companies, including the eight-figure exit of her second business, Difrent. She also led the launch of the NHS App, now with over 30 million downloads and one of the UK's most impactful digital programmes. At the start of 2026, Rachel was recognised on the Ideas Fest New Year Honours List, reflecting not just what she's built, but how she shows up for founders and leaders across the UK. Through The Grafter, Rachel works alongside ambitious business owners who want to build something that stands up commercially, strategically and emotionally — helping founders create clarity, drive sustainable revenue, and build long-term value, whether they're scaling, raising, or preparing for their next chapter. Known for her calm authority, straight talking, and ability to sit with complexity when it matters most, Rachel is the person founders trust when the stakes are high — because she's been there, she's done it, and she doesn't flinch. Follow HealthTech Hour for more conversations with the founders, operators and builders shaping the future of UK health and tech.
This week, HealthTech Hour comes to you live from Digital Health Rewired at the NEC - one of the UK's biggest gatherings of the people building, leading and shaping digital health. Steve is joined at the event by three special guests: Alex Lawrence - Fellow at The Health Foundation, bringing a sharp policy and research lens to the conversations happening across the show floor. Hassan Chaudhury - one of digital health's best-known advisors and connectors, with a knack for cutting through hype and spotting what actually moves the needle. Hayley Grafton - an accomplished digital nurse leader, representing the clinical voice that so often gets left out of the tech conversation. Together, they unpack what's really happening in UK digital health right now: the ideas getting traction at Rewired, the gaps between policy and frontline reality, and where the next wave of impact is most likely to come from. A live, on-the-ground episode you don't want to miss. Follow HealthTech Hour for more conversations with the founders, operators and builders shaping the future of UK health and tech.
20 years ago, there was a scandal around dodgy hip replacements failing. The NHS had no national register for hip replacements - so Richard Armstrong and others set about building one and that is called the National Joint Registry. Scroll forward to today and it is the leading global database for implants and connecting to outcomes. The data is so comprehensive that Richard and his team are able to predict which implants will deliver the best outcomes and the best long-term ROI for any healthcare system. Richard Armstrong is Director of Registries and RWE at NEC Software Solutions and his passion is data science in health - and the impact of his passion is felt throughout the healthcare service, Richard has worked in healthcare informatics for the past decade, running national programmes associated with the collection and reporting of healthcare data. A key aspect of Richard’s work is designing and managing medical registries which analyse data on medical procedures, devices and outcomes. Richard has a pivotal role in advancing real-world evidence initiatives in healthcare, which can significantly impact treatment decisions and patient safety.
The data is clear - language barriers hurt patients, in any healthcare setting. In some settings, for example acute, maternity and others, these barriers can lead to very serious situations. Kavita Palmer is a clinician by background and Co-Founder of Word360, a multilingual and translation support platform used across the NHS. Her mission is to solve this, at scale - and the problem is vast. Think about all the communication, written, verbal, paper, electronic, across all healthcare pathways. Last year in London alone, they provided 167 different languages to NHS clinicians and patients and have the ability to offer 450+. As Britain's demographics shift, this will become ever more important to solve efficiently.
Sleep struggles? This show could be for you. Alison is one of the most successful NHS entrepreneurs, with her business Sleepstation now working with over 80% of NHS regions and over 80% of all GP surgeries have referred patients into Sleepstation. Sleepstation is a digital alternative to sleeping pills, that embeds human-led CBTi alongside technology to deliver very successful outcomes to insomnia. Alison is an inspirational leader and a brilliant founder and her story will lift you up!
Sara Roberts is a four-time HealthTech founder, strategic advisor and the founder of Well Purposed, a strategic advisory studio supporting post Series-A HealthTech and longevity companies to scale ethically and sustainably. With over 15 years’ experience operating across the UK, Africa and the Europe, she has built and scaled ventures from early traction to £10m ARR, working closely with founders, investors and executive teams navigating growth, ethics, and operational complexity. Her work is shaped by both lived founder experience and personal motivation. Following the loss of her father to a preventable illness, Sara became focused on building more human, preventative and integrity-led health systems. Through Well Purposed, she advises HealthTech leaders on sustainable growth, leadership resilience and aligning commercial success with long-term outcomes.
Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock is a Clinician turned serial entrepreneur, including being a trailblazer in the field of Pharmacogenomics - finding medicines that work better based on your individual genome. Pharmacogenomics was included in the NHS 10 Year Plan as a "big bet" to save the NHS. He is the founder/CEO of Mantara Health Ltd, responsible for launching the first commercially available Pharmacogenomics (PGx) test in the UK.
Dr Taz Aldawoud is a GP, NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellow and founding CEO of Doc Abode, a nationally recognised digital health company enabling the NHS to deliver faster, safer care closer to home. With over 20 years’ clinical experience and an MBA specialising in Strategic Healthcare Management, he combines frontline insight with a strong record in digital transformation. He spent more than a decade as Director of Clinical Innovation at West Yorkshire’s urgent care provider, where he pioneered one of the NHS’s first award-winning telehealth services. Taz is currently Chief Clinical Information Officer for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and previously served as a Digital Clinical Adviser for NHS England, contributing to national digital policy and innovation. Through Doc Abode , he works with Integrated Care Systems and provider Trusts across the UK to increase workforce capacity, improve responsiveness and enhance patient outcomes through dynamic care coordination and real-time visibility of clinical resources.
In this episode, Steve Roest, CEO of PocDoc speaks to Lord (James) Bethell. Lord Bethell is an entrepreneur, former health minister and champion for public health. He has a twenty-year track record working across government, media and industry, working at The Sunday Times, the US Senate, and the EU Commission. He has built and sold communications companies and helped make the Ministry of Sound a global success story. As a minister at the Department for Health and Social Care, he helped lead the UK national response to the Covid epidemic. He is currently a member of the House of Lords, chairman of Business for Health, a Fellow at King’s College London and a senior counsel to several health companies.
On today's show, Steve Roest, CEO of PocDoc speaks to Dr Natalie Banner is Chief Ethics and Engagement Officer at Genomics England, an organisation owned by the UK Government to provide the evidence and digital systems to drive advances in genomic research and medicine, and to support the implementation of genomics in healthcare. Genomics is being hailed as one of the big developments that will usher in an age of health, wealth and prosperity, but do you really know what it means? And what the ethical issues are around mapping our entire genetic structures? Natalie is responsible for helping Genomics England navigate the complex ethical challenges that arise at the intersection of genomic technology and care, ensuring that the organisation is a trustworthy steward of participants’ data. This includes oversight for research regulatory compliance, extensive public and research participant engagement work, improving transparency and embedding meaningful approaches to equity across its programmes. Natalie has over a decade of experience in the ethics, policy and governance of emerging data-driven health technologies. She previously led the ‘Understanding Patient Data’ initiative based at the Wellcome Trust, as well as the research sector Parliamentary advocacy on GDPR as it was being taken up into domestic law. She has a PhD in Philosophy and previously worked on conceptual issues relating to mental capacity and decision-making in clinical contexts.
Valentina Milanova is the founder and CEO of Daye, a gynae health research and development company seeking to close the gender health gap with proprietary medical and diagnostic devices aimed at common, yet under-served gynae health conditions, ranging from period and pelvic pain to cervical cancer prevention. Valentina is a huge advocate for women's health and this show goes into detail on the chronic underfunding, lack of access and disparities in care women face across the world. It also covers how Valentina is remaking the world and winning, increasing access to pain relief during periods with her pain-relieving tampons and eradicating cervical cancer.
Very special show this week - Steve Roest's guest is Igor Araújo, a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has an incredible story of pursuing his dream of fighting at the highest level, against all odds. A professional competitor since 2004, Igor has competed for the UFC, M-1 Global, Shooto, KSW, and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter. He has won the European Jujitsu Championships 4 times and now dedicates himself to training future generations. Igor credits his faith in God, his love for his family and his commitment to hard work as critical in beating all the odds stacked against him.
Wendy Powell never accepted that incontinence, back pain, diastasis and intimacy problems were "just part of being a woman". She used her physio background to embark on a mission to fight for the importance of evidence based solutions for Pelvic Floor health in women. In this episiode, Steve Roest and Wendy go into detail on why Pelvic Floor health isn't a minor issue, it affects billions of women worldwide. Wendy Powell is the founder of MUTU System , the digital pelvic health solution clinically validated and contracted by the NHS, and partnered with a major US insurer. She leads innovation in evidence-based, accessible care for women, bridging clinical credibility with scalable digital delivery to close the global care gap in pelvic and core health.
Devika Wood, Steve Roest's guest on this show, is the CEO of Brain+, a pioneering health technology company transforming dementia care through its digital platform, Ayla. Devika is also one of the most inspirational people in European HealthTech. Over the past 13+ years, she has worked across startups and multinationals, from Google and Babylon to founding Vida, which exited in 2019, and leading digital health strategy at AXA Health. Recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, She has also been named King’s Entrepreneur of the Year and featured in the United Nations #SheInnovates campaign for advancing healthcare innovation and championing women in STEM. She is also the co-founder of WEALTH: Women in Health, a growing global community for female leaders in healthcare.
Dan Vahdat is the founder and CEO of Huma, a healthcare AI company valued at over $1 billion, dedicated to accelerating the adoption of digital solutions in healthcare and research. In this episode he speaks to Steve Roest, founder and CEO of PocDoc on his journey to creating Huma, his philosophies on growing complex companies in complex industries and on why he split Huma into units with their own CEO. Huma’s technology has powered more than 1,000 clinical trials and is used in 4,500 hospitals and clinics across the US and beyond. Its platform has screened, triaged, and engaged over 50 million individuals, with millions of active users across its products in more than 70 countries. In 2023, Dan was selected as HealthTech Leader of the Year, and Huma has received the prestigious Prix Galien award twice. Dan is also a member of the World Economic Forum.
