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Our work

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Graph showing loss versus surplus
13/05/2024

Contracting for health outcomes: from concept through theory to implementation

In this new report, jointly authored with colleagues from the University of York and The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, we set out in detail how an outcomes-based contract for elective knee replacements might be constructed, and the potential implications for commissioners, providers, and policy-makers.

Red rose on grave headstone
Blog post 23/04/2024

Playing our part in conversations about death

“Dad, why are all your ‘peptalks’ about death?” Children can be a source of fundamental insight. They seem to specialise in feedback of the unvarnished, unmediated and fully caffeinated variety. The kind of feedback that cuts straight to it. My youngest daughter, mid-way through our sunny walk down the hill to school, pressed on: “And you wear black all the time. You look like a crow…” Fundamental insight, and now fashion advice. This was quite the school run.

Feet walking
02/04/2024

Ghosted by an old friend

“…personal contact was a vital element in general practice from the beginning. By 1959 50% of people in England regarded their GP as a personal friend.”

dandelion with seeds floating away
Report 31/01/2024

A Picture of End-of-Life Care in England

Working with Macmillan our analysis investigates who is more likely to experience poor outcomes associated with shortcomings in end-of-life care? Are there particular areas in England where those at end-of-life face significant challenges and how might the supply of services in an area be influencing these?

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.

River winding through grass and trees
11/10/2023

Rural Health Inequalities

The UK Government (2016) define rural areas as those which

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.

Menopause and the NHS workforce graphic
Long read 07/03/2023

No more suffering in silence, we want to talk about the menopause

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Karen Bradley, Principal Consultant at the Strategy Unit, and Susan Blakey, Senior People Consultant at MLCSU, two advisors involved in the recent project, ‘Menopause and the NHS Workforce’, discuss its significance and share what they want to see happen as a result of the published report.

graphic showing inequality being erased with eraser
Report 04/11/2022

What are the ethical challenges in addressing inequities?

Produced by Angie Hobbs - the world’s first Professor in the Public Understanding of Philosophy – this paper examines the ethical questions raised by our report outlining strategies for reducing inequity.

Public sitting in a room
Long read 27/09/2022

Helping ICSs to reduce inequalities in access to planned care

Are there inequalities in access to planned care? If so, what are they? Which groups ‘gain’ and which groups suffer? And what could be done to address any inequalities? In pursuing their objective of reducing inequalities, what could Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) do? What strategies and approaches are likely to be successful?

Laptop showing red screen and loading image
Blog post 27/09/2022

What matters when waiting? – involving the public in NHS waiting list prioritisation

As the NHS emerged out of the pandemic, it was confronted with the challenge of not only recovery of unprecedented waiting lists, but with inequalities which required attention. NHS leaders challenged providers to restore inclusively and at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, we have developed a way of doing just that, whilst simultaneously reducing waiting times for all.

Nurse checking patient's IV
Report 09/05/2022

Strategies to reduce inequalities in access to planned hospital procedures

UPDATE 10th August: Now including briefing note for Integrated Care Boards on legal duties in respect of reducing inequalities. This report guides ICBs through the process.

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.

Organogram showing sub headings against Family, Community, Use of health services, Occupational, and Policy and guidelines
Report 23/03/2022

We don’t just need to hear ‘you are more affected’ - what’s the action?

The experience of minority ethnic people symptomatic for COVID-19 in the first UK wave of the pandemic.

Wheelchair alongside chairs
Blog post 11/03/2022

Treating people on waiting lists: who decides what is fair?

Waiting lists for elective care are in the news. The national plan has been issued, with the expectation that lists will continue to rise for some years - and that long waiting will not disappear anytime soon. Addressing this ‘backlog’ will remain a fundamental challenge for some time to come.

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.

Male healthcare worker kneeling alongside elderly woman holding knee
Video 28/10/2021

Securing the future of domiciliary care

The Strategy Unit is embarking on an exciting project with WM ADASS, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care Services in the West Midlands to explore the challenges facing domiciliary care and the opportunities that exist to transform and improve the service.

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.

people sitting on chairs at a conference with view from back of room to speaker
Report 27/07/2021

Inequities in children and young people’s mental health services

Good mental health during early years and childhood has a great bearing on health throughout life.

Woman facing wall covered in handwritten hearts wearing black waistcoat showing  National Covid Memorial Wall
Report 06/07/2021

Measuring the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on population health

Measuring the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on population health

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