News and Views

12/05/2023
Blog post Better use of analysis | Learning and development

Diagnosing harms?

All medicines are poisons. Everything that cures could kill if administered in the wrong doses, to the wrong people, at the wrong times, in the wrong ways.

05/01/2023
News Better use of analysis

Analysts, we need to talk about…….

The future looks incredibly promising for ana

18/10/2022
News Evaluation and impact assessment | Policy

Menopause and the NHS workforce

Now with the World Menopause Day 2022 update. What is it like to experience menopause as an NHS employee? And what is its impact on both the individuals and the organisations they work for?

27/09/2022
News Elective care | Inequalities | Policy | Strategy Development

Helping ICSs to reduce inequalities in access to planned care

Are there inequalities in access to planned care? If so, what are they? Which groups ‘gain’ and which groups suffer? And what could be done to address any inequalities? In pursuing their objective of reducing inequalities, what could Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) do? What strategies and approaches are likely to be successful?

16/08/2022
News Better use of analysis | Comparative Analysis | Complex Modelling | Economic Analysis | Problem Structuring

INSIGHT 2022 21st November - 2nd December

The Midlands Decision Support Network in association with The Strategy Unit are hosting INSIGHT 2022 our annual festival of learning and sharing events for the NHS, local government and other partners across health and care.

04/08/2022
Blog post Emergency care | Policy | Primary, community and social care services | Public health and prevention

Infant-feeding problems during the pandemic

Emergency department attendances fell dramatically and systematically during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect was almost universal, affecting people from all parts of society and for all health conditions. But in our recent paper we highlight one notable exception to this rule -presentations at Emergency Departments for infant-feeding problems increased during the pandemic.

29/07/2022
Blog post Better use of analysis | Problem Structuring

What was the question again?

We hear a lot about what’s stopping the NHS making the most of its army of talented analysts. Some say we just need more data, or data of better quality. Others point to deficiencies in our infrastructure, IT kit or the software we use. But I’m not so sure. For me the biggest shortfall is in good questions that we can feasibly address.

28/04/2022
News Better use of analysis

We saw them before they were famous: reflections on AphA’s away day

In June 1976, the Sex Pistols played Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall.

30/03/2022
News Better use of analysis

‘Developing your ICS Intelligence Functions’: A Free Webinar Series

What is an ‘Intelligence Function’? What value can they add to decision making? How can they be configured and who needs to be involved? What lessons can be drawn from current practice?

03/02/2022
News Better use of analysis | Futures thinking | Learning and development

Decision makers can make much better use of analysis

Part of the Strategy Unit mission is to improve the use of analysis in decision making. Current use is, to employ a euphemism, variable.

09/11/2021
Blog post Better use of analysis | Learning and development

The Intellectual Forum: a source of fresh perspectives on decision making

The literature on decision making is like a disaster movie highlights reel. Barely has one calamity registered before another serious misstep takes its place. Case study after case study flashes past, each with its own lessons and warnings.

01/11/2021
News Better use of analysis | Inequalities | Learning and development | Policy

Insight 2021

The Midlands Decision Support Network in association with The Strategy Unit hosted INSIGHT 2021 our annual festival of learning and sharing events for the NHS, local government and other partners across health and care (4th – 15th October).

28/10/2021
Blog post Primary, community and social care services

Securing the future of domiciliary care

The Strategy Unit is embarking on an exciting project with WM ADASS, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care Services in the West Midlands to explore the challenges facing domiciliary care and the opportunities that exist to transform and improve the service.