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News and Views

Keep up to date with our latest news and blogs. 

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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.

13/05/2022
Blog post
Emergency care

Urgent Community Response – What Works?

The Strategy Unit, with our partners Ipsos, has been commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to provide a long-term national evaluation of the Urgent Community Response programme rolled-out across England. The programme aims to shift resources to home and community-based services as part of the NHS commitment to providing the right care, to the right people, at the right time. And there are a range of outputs from the early work that provide learning for local systems as they develop their services.

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.

10 min review 06/08/2021
Blog post
Comparative Analysis | Elective care | Emergency care

Decisions to admit patients are not solely determined by clinical risk

Whether or not to admit a patient is one of the most routine yet important decisions a doctor in an Emergency Department

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

28/01/2021
Blog post
Complex Modelling | Emergency care | Inequalities

Strategy Unit analysis published showing changes in use of emergency departments under lockdown

We know that patterns of access to healthcare have changed during the pandemic.

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?

09/12/2020
News
Elective care | Emergency care | Evaluation and impact assessment | Mental health | Primary, community and social care services

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence: a significant new win

The Strategy Unit, the Health Economics Unit and Leicester Clinical Trials Unit have been announced as evaluation partners to support success in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health and Care Awards.     

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash 03/03/2020
Blog post

Key opportunities for eye health and well being

Eye health and sight loss services have historically had a lower profile in service provision compared to many other specialities. There is a view that the importance of eye health has been underrepresented in many Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) plans.

03/12/2019
Feedback from clients

"...an excellent way of encouraging health and care professionals to think about and challenge each other on the future"

"The Strategy Unit scenario planning was an excellent way of encouraging health and care professionals to think about and challenge e

01/08/2019
Feedback from clients

"...interesting and just invaluable for our afternoon thinking"

"The way the scenario workshop was structured really stood out for me.

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. 

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.

18/08/2017
Blog post

Innovation In Dudley: The Enabling Practice To Improve And Change Programme (Epic)

The Strategy Unit has been working with GP practices in Dudley for the last three years to support service improvement in Primary Care.

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