A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast.

We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail.

This week we're focussing on spending pledges. NHS budgets have not been keeping up with healthcare demand, and social care is in dire financial straits. David Oliver, consultant physician in Berkshire and author of the weekly BMJ “Acute perspective” column, and Hugh Alderwick, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation.

Reading list
Acute perspective column
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/category/columnists/david-oliver/

Health Foundations analysis of spending
https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/blogsf




talk through what the parties are promising