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Our work

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Colorful watercolor brush stroke on transparent background
Blog post 06/05/2026

Adopting the Core20PLUS5 approach: different strokes for different folks?

This blog describes the headline findings from the first phase of the national evaluation of the Core20PLUS5 approach

hospital staff running down a corridor wearing masks and scrubs
Blog post 23/02/2026

What explains the recent growth in hospital activity?

In this long read, Fraser Battye describes our analysis of what has driven the growth in hospital activity.

Cartoon graphic depicting four people standing on orange blocks at different heights
News 05/11/2025

Strengthening ethnicity data across the NHS: developing the national improvement plan

Our analysis and stakeholder engagement supported NHS England to develop the national Ethnicity Recording Improvement Plan.

Hands of two children
Report 13/06/2025

Mending smarter, not harder: Changing fracture care for children

The report demonstrates there is significant variation between trusts in England in how paediatric fractures are managed. Widespread adoption of less interventional approaches to paediatric fracture management could result in significant savings in hospital activity, particularly reduced follow-up appointments for uncomplicated fractures.

Man sitting at desk with hands on table and female clinician completing form
Report 06/06/2025

Scoping a Health Needs Assessment for Adults on Probation in England

This scoping report explores the health inequalities experienced by people on probation and the limited data on their health needs and engagement with health services. It sets out recommendations for commissioning and delivering a national health needs assessment to address that data gap and support local health needs assessments for the probation population.

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?

Summary of findings from the study
Report 18/10/2023

Menopause and the NHS workforce

The impact of the menopause on the NHS workforce. The Strategy Unit and Health Economics Unit report on their mixed methods findings.

Senior Patient Lady Signing Papers With Doctor In Hospital
Long read 10/05/2023

Inclusive Elective Care Recovery

These case studies present the key features and learning from local initiatives which championed inclusive approaches to elective care recovery.

woman in winter dress holding heart
Report 22/03/2023

The NHS as an anchor institution: addressing fuel poverty

The number of households in fuel poverty in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (SSoT) is higher than the national average. As anchor institutions, NHS organisations can use their assets to influence the health and wellbeing of their local communities. The Strategy Unit was asked by the Midlands NHS Greening Board to evaluate a cross-sector initiative in SSoT to help alleviate fuel poverty using savings generated through solar panels on NHS buildings. The project is called Keep Warm, Keep Well.

Evaluating Social Prescribing
16/12/2022

MDSN: Evaluating Social Prescribing Literature Review

Evaluating Social Prescribing – Literature review for the MDSN Evaluation Community of Practice collaborative project

Woman holding baby to chest, black and white image
Blog post 04/08/2022

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.

Background of circles in different colours with the words Autism in scrabble letters
Report 29/03/2022

Autism evidence scan identifies knowledge gaps

Diagnosing autism takes account of a person’s differences in social interaction and communication, sensory sensitivity, interests and behaviours. Yet autism varies hugely from person to person, both in how it looks and how it is experienced.

Logos: Strategy Unit, ICF, University of Birmingham, BILD
Report 12/11/2021

Evaluation of Building the Right Support: Final Reports

Building the Right Support was a national plan to provide better support to people with a learning disability or autism.

Woman holding baby to chest, black and white image
Blog post 15/09/2021

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.

Black pregnant Woman
Report 11/09/2020

Accessibility of perinatal mental health services for women from Ethnic Minority groups

Barriers to accessing mental health care during pregnancy and the first postnatal year (perinatal period) seem to be greater for ethnic minority women.

Long read 29/11/2017

Understanding future maternity demand and activity using collaborative modelling methods

The Strategy Unit approach to demand and activity modelling has been developed, refined and extensively tested over many years in a variety of heal

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