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Our work

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Emergency room entrance sign in a street outside of a hospital
Blog post 12/08/2026

Emergency Departments worked better during the strikes. But why?

New research published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine explores why emergency departments worked better during strikes.

Clean empty bed in a hospital ,Patient bed in hospital,Empty hospital bed
Blog post 03/08/2026

The hidden challenge at the heart of the 10-year plan

A new tool exploring why hospital bed pressure is increasing and what this could mean for future NHS capacity planning.

Two people stand on opposite sides of a number on the ground; one sees a 6, the other sees a 9, each pointing and stating their perspective.
Blog post 30/06/2026

Neighbourhoods and hospital activity: oh yes it can, oh no it can’t?

Simple, intuitive ideas don’t draw critical attention. They stroll about the policy world, untested and unscathed.

Colorful wooden Tetris-like blocks are stacked and scattered on a wooden surface with a green background.
Blog post 02/06/2026

Complex problems and Multi-Disciplinary Teams

Many moons ago, I was fortunate enough to observe a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) in Dudley.

A digitally illustrated, isometric view of an impossible staircase labyrinth inspired by M.C. Escher, rendered in a painterly style. Stone staircases loop and intersect in paradoxical, gravity-defying configurations within a deep stone structure. Several small human figures in colourful clothing are scattered across the staircases, appearing to walk in different directions. Vines and small plants grow along the upper edges of the walls, and the overall co
Blog post 14/05/2026

Failure demand as a route to success?

When we began looking at failure demand in the NHS, I assumed most of our time would be spent in familiar territory: productivity metr

Space shuttle rocket isolated on blue cyan background with copy space. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
Blog post 29/04/2026

Neighbourhood health should not be judged (solely) by its ability to reduce hospital activity

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy arrived at NASA headquarters for a progress update on the planned trip to the moon.

blue and pink string lights
Blog post 14/04/2026

Diagnosing the problems of non-diagnosis

Some descriptions of healthcare seem to be taken straight from the film Minority Report.

Blue rectangular sign mounted on a brick wall, with a large white left-pointing arrow above the white text ‘your local GP Surgery’
Blog post 25/03/2026

Big GP practices: light work or spoilt broth?

Larger GP practices may deliver more appointments, but are they the most efficient way to provide good care?

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.

Overhead view of a busy city intersection with wide white zebra crosswalks filled with dozens of pedestrians walking in different directions across the asphalt. People carry bags and backpacks, and some pull rolling suitcases, creating a dynamic crisscross pattern against the bold striped crossings.
Blog post 13/02/2026

A journey into intersectionality

A practical exploration of intersectionality, testing theory through quantitative analysis of hospital readmissions.

Realistic office table cluttered with scattered calendars, colourful sticky notes, and overlapping handwritten plans, with coffee stains and multiple wall clocks showing different times.
Blog post 03/02/2026

The enduring ‘messy programme’ with ‘mixed results’

The diagram below shows me at my most cynical.

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.

2. Several individuals wearing scrubs discussing among themselves in outdoor setting.
Blog post 20/10/2025

The Strategy Unit contribution to neighbourhood health

Our role in supporting the national effort to turn the vision of neighbourhood health into action by providing evidence, analysis and insight.

Impossible Stairway Maze
Blog post 09/10/2025

Making sense of failure demand in the NHS

I must be an unpleasant creature to share a room with. I snore. I smell. And I’m seemingly addicted to my way of doing things.

man in wind
Blog post 26/09/2025

The decline in care continuity is not inevitable

Relational continuity of care, the extent to which patients have an ongoing relationship with a specific clinician in their GP practice, is perhaps

carer holding had with elderly person in wheelchair
Blog post 24/09/2025

A missing element in ‘shifting care’

Our Director, Peter Spilsbury, outlines the scale of the task when it comes to making ‘the shift from hospital to community’.

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’

Man wearing suit adjusting cuff
Blog post 11/03/2025

Are ‘Internal Consultancies’ a good option for the NHS?

Ahead of a SU INSIGHTS event on the topic, Fraser Battye, our Head of Policy suggests ways the NHS could make better use of consultancy support.

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