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News and Views

Keep up to date with our latest news and blogs. 

  • Better use of analysis
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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.

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.

08/06/2022
News
Futures thinking

‘Might’ is right

A good idea can be ruined by over-selling.

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.

15/10/2021
News
Better use of analysis | Comparative Analysis | Elective care | Finance and payments | Problem Structuring

Strategy Unit devises a new method for classifying outpatient appointments

The number of outpatient attendances in England is now approaching 100 million each year.

15/09/2021
Blog post
Comparative Analysis | Emergency care | Problem Structuring

Infant feeding problems, lockdown and attendance at Emergency Departments: what’s going on?

From our previous work, with Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation, we know that lockdown had a significant effect on attendance at Emergency Departments (ED). We also know that this effect was very unevenly distributed: some demographic groups stayed away far more than others.

01/07/2021
Blog post
Comparative Analysis | Emergency care | Problem Structuring

Emergency Department attendances reach new high – August may bring new challenges 

Earlier this year, the Str

22/01/2021
Blog post

Is ‘Integrating Care’ bold enough?

In this blog, Fraser Battye leaves the Strategy Unit’s usual careful and empirical view of the world. He reflects on NHS England and Improvement’s ‘Integrating Care’ paper from the perspective of wider ideological and societal trends. In doing so, he suggests that there is scope for bolder reform – and that localism is the way to go.

15/01/2021
Blog post

What might ‘Integrating Care’ mean for analysts?

In this blog, Fraser Battye looks at NHS England/Improvement’s ‘Integrating Care’ paper. While not looking forward to another NHS re-organisation, he sees a lot that analysts will like. Fraser also notes the potential advantage that the Decision Support Unit model gives systems in the Midlands. What can analysts do to seize these opportunities?

16/10/2020
Blog post
Futures thinking | Policy

The bigger picture

Today, the Health Foundation launched the REAL Centre (Research and Economic Analysis for the Long term), an incredibly important initiative to imp

09/12/2019
Blog post
Better use of analysis | Futures thinking | Problem Structuring

Measuring what matters in systems – A call for person-centred intelligence

The Strategy Unit and Ipsos MORI launch guide to implementing Person-Centred Intelligence.

Thumbnail 14/03/2019
Feedback from clients

The Neighbourhood Network Feedback

We have received some fantastic feedback from those who attended our "Science of Improvement" workshop led by our very own Professor Mohammed A Mohammed on Wednesday 27th February 2019. 

Thumbnail 13/08/2018
Blog post
Better use of analysis | Problem Structuring

Part of the solution or part of the problem? Management Consultants and the NHS

I was quoted in a recent Guardian newspaper article which described a London Clinical Commissioning Group’s wasteful use of external

13/07/2018
Blog post

Integrating health and care services - what works? It’s complicated…

Coinciding nicely with the NHS 70th Birthday celebrations and the parallel discussions of ‘where next and how to do it better’ for the NHS, last we

Thumbnail 01/06/2018
Blog post

Do you like to integrate horizontally or vertically? NHS positions examined

Our latest research paper explores the impact of the different options for integration implemented as a result of the Transforming Community Services policy in 2010. This accompanying commentary reflects on potential implications for the current policy drive towards Integrated Care Systems.

Thumbnail 24/05/2018
Blog post

Intelligence-driven healthcare: what should the future look like?

Find out about our recent summit on intelligence to drive improvement in healthcare and comment on our working design principles.

Thumbnail 19/03/2018
Blog post

What works for primary care led integration?

We recently shared highlights from our realist synthesis on primary care-led integrated models, at the Health Policy and Planning Network workshop. Take a look at our presentation for a flavour of our findings ahead of publication later in the summer.

Thumbnail 26/09/2017
Feedback from clients

"Shining a light on mental health provision" (Mental Health Report)

Our analysis of the physical health of people who use mental health services is helping to identify strategic priorities and opportunities for improvement in health systems across the country.

26/09/2017
Feedback from clients

"A more informed narrative and evidence" to help drive priorities (Mental Health Report)

Superintendent Sean Williams comments on our analysis packs making the case to integrate mental and physical health care.

26/08/2017
Blog post
Evidence Reviews | Primary, community and social care services | Problem Structuring

Can a new model of integrated care improve resilience?

The Strategy Unit has recently completed a £116,000 research project that will inform the development of new care models central to the NHS Fi

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