Keep up to date with our latest news and blogs.
Blog post
The impact of social care on demand for urgent hospital care: have we reached a consensus?
The care home COVID crisis and the effects of longstanding staffing and funding shortages has meant that
Blog post
Learning the lessons of Long Covid in real time
Round table event, 12 July
Blog post
Localism and the NHS: a case in four stories
In this blog, Fraser Battye makes the case for localism in the NHS. He tells four short stories. He suggests that these stories highlight an opportunity as the NHS enters a period of reform.
Blog post
Another look at inequality and NHS action on cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be one of the leading causes of death and disease in the UK.
Blog post
NHS-R: 2020 in Review
In 2020, collaboration and community meant more than ever.
Blog post Integrated Care
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.
Blog post Integrated Care
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?
Blog post
A free guide to support high quality evaluation in the NHS
The Strategy Unit issues free guide to evaluation principles and practice
Blog post
End of Life analysis: what next? A perspective from Catherine Walshe
‘In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes’.
Blog post
A learning NHS and ‘black box’ analysis aren’t compatible
Data analysis presents a limitless opportunity to improve decision making within the NHS.
Blog post
End of Life analysis: what next? A perspective from Seamus O'Mahony
In this blog, the author of ‘The Way We Die Now’ - Seamus O’Mahony – sets our findings into a broader context. He also examines one topic raised in our analysis: chemotherapy at the end of life.
Blog post
Making sense of evidence
It's time to celebrate World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day. In a world dominated by COVID-19 and the associated infodemic, this day arguably has more resonance. Closer to home, EBHC Day also coincides with our Insight 2020 festival and the launch of the Midlands Decision Support network. What better opportunity to ask, 'what does evidence-informed decision making actually mean'?
Blog post
Bringing NHS analytics into the 21st Century
A marriage usually needs (at least): a matchmaker, two entities, a (little) money, a proposal and a home.
Blog post Service improvement
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.
Blog post Mental health services
World Mental Health Day - Insights from our Guest Blog Series
On World Mental Health Day 2019, we bring to a close the Strategy Unit’s guest blog series which explored the overlap between mental and physical health.
Blog post
Have cuts to public spending on social care for older people led to more emergency hospital admissions?
Cuts to council social care budgets are often cited as a cause of pressure on NHS urgent and emergency care services. Much of the evidence supporting this link, however, is anecdotal. We set out to try and quantify the effect of cuts to social care on older people’s use of emergency healthcare services, and our research has just been published in BMJ Open.
Blog post
Living with diabetes is a mind game - Colette Marshall, Diabetes UK
As we continue our series of viewpoints on the physical and clinical mental health divide, Colette Marshall, Director of Operations at Diabetes UK brings the perspective of those living with a chronic health condition.
Blog post Mental health services | Primary Care
The body keeps the score (do we?)
In this fifth guest blog, in our series of viewpoints on the physical and clinical mental health divide, Dr Paul Turner, General Practitioner at Karis Medical Centre, Birmingham and Joint Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHSE West Midlands Clinical Network describes the cost of untreated complexity.
Blog post
Time to act for sex and gender parity in health and care
On International Womens Day 2019, Abeda Mulla from the Strategy Unit reflects on our gendered society that has led to poorer health outcomes in women.
Blog post
Emerging from the silos: how the NHS can support economic growth
The Strategy Unit has been leading the way on supporting local NHS bodies to consider the wider economic impact of how they operate. Here, David Frith highlights what a shift this is for the NHS, along with the range of opportunities NHS bodies should consider exploring.