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Our work

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picture of kidneys in a persons bare hands
Blog post 09/01/2026

Planning for rising renal demand: simulating capacity across the care system

Demand for kidney replacement therapy is rising, and current capacity will not be sufficient over the next decade. This work uses simulation modelling to help systems understand future pressures and test potential responses.

4 people queing in a medical clinic
Blog post 12/11/2025

Beating the backlog: Meeting the waiting list challenge

The NHS waiting list in England must halve to reach waiting time targets.

Stock image showing big data visualisation: numbers 0 and 1 in coloured blocks
Blog post 09/04/2025

Transforming Hospital Planning with an Open-Source Demand and Capacity Model​

​​We are proud to announce the open-sourcing of a demand and capacity model, developed with the New Hospitals Programme, to transform NHS hospital planning with transparency, collaboration, and efficiency. ​

Image of shocked goose
Blog post 27/03/2025

‘Internal Consultancy’: INSIGHTS from evidence and experience

In this blog, our Head of Policy, Fraser Battye, shares his reflections on a recent ‘SU INSIGHTS’ event on the ‘Internal Consultancy’

Stock image of red first aid kit with contents spilling out: stethoscope, tablets, ear buds, tweezers, plasters
Blog post 14/02/2025

Charisma

In this long read, which first appeared in the HSJ, Fraser Battye - our Head of Policy – looks at the role of charisma and innovation in the way that NHS resources are allocated.

Sword floating in water with rope around it
Blog post 10/10/2024

Ara Darzi, Wes Streeting and English health policy. Part 2: cutting the knot

Following on from part one, Fraser continues exploring the Gordian Knot of English health policy.

Blue tied rope
Blog post 04/10/2024

Ara Darzi, Wes Streeting and English health policy. Part 1: the Gordian Knot

Health policy is not at a crossroads, it is in a bind. Strands so entangled, so complex they resemble a Gordian knot. Can this knot be untied?

Confused man
Blog post 20/05/2024

Want to ease pressure in urgent care? Simply cut community services!?!

What should decision makers do with analysis that challenges deeply held assumptions? In this blog, Fraser Battye reflects on a surprising recent finding about community services.

Squares depicting Conflict, Constraints, Community and Centralisation
Blog post 23/06/2023

Exploring the Edge of Tomorrow, Today

Exploring the critical building blocks for a resilient social care system in 2035 with the West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS).

inequalities
Blog post 26/07/2022

Inequalities in access to healthcare - what’s our next move?

Our research, published in the Lancet Regional Health Europe, highlights substantial inequities in access to elective hip replacement surgery. We found no evidence that these inequities reduced between 2006 and 2016.

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash of eye health
Blog post 03/03/2020

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.

Bleeding Hearts
Blog post 08/03/2019

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.

Economics blog banner image
Blog post 18/02/2019

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.

Skeletons
Blog post 06/02/2019

They don’t believe you

Continuing our mental and physical health guest blog series, Sophie Corlett the Director of External Relations at Mind provides some perspectives from people with physical ailments who are users of mental health services.

Workfprce
Blog post 09/01/2019

Mind and body: inseparable twins

Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, reflects on the relationship between mental and physical health and the need for better integration of care.

Human Vs Machine Brain
Blog post 08/11/2018

Humans and system: challenging the false dichotomy between mental and physical health - Dr Hilary Grant

Woven material
Blog post 10/10/2018

Warp and weft – recognising that physical and mental health are interwoven - By Professor Sir Muir Gray

On World Mental Health Day, we’re delighted to present a guest blog by Professor Sir Muir Gray, the first in a new series of commi

Blog post 04/07/2018

Mental Health and integration: Cinderella or the Ugly Sisters?

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