
Decision Making Blog #3: The black hole of the status quo
Learning is one of the joys of teaching. And I’ve learnt a lot while helping people develop their decision making skills.

Decision Making Blog #2: Two under-appreciated sources of leadership power
Some forms of leaders’ power are obvious. Leaders hire and they fire.

Decision Making Blog #1: Better decision making: a neglected route to improvement?
There are two main routes for health and care services to improve the health of the populations they serve. The

Analysts, we need to talk about…….
The future looks incredibly promising for ana

Insight 2022 - Day 4 - The future of healthcare analytics
The future of healthcare analytics.
Insight 2022 - Day 4 - Smarter decision-making for your population
Smarter decision-making for your populationNHS England has identified Population Health Management (PHM) as a core strategic aim f

Insight 2022 - Day 3 - Decision-making in the 21st century NHS – how does it really work?
Decision-making in the 21st century NHS – how does it really work?The NHS Long Term Plan placed an emphasis on better use of data

Insight 2022 - Day 2 - How the science of systems thinking can support the craft of wise decision making – A GP practice case study
How the science of systems thinking can support the craft of wise decision making – A GP practice case studyIf yo

Insight 2022 - Day 2 - Understanding the links between delayed discharges and hospital congestion
Understanding the links between delayed discharges and hospital congestionIn January 2022 NHS figures showed that
Insight 2022 - Day 1 - ICSs working together to be intelligence-led organisations: lessons from history
ICSs working together to be intelligence-led organisations: lessons from historyHow can Integrated Care Systems (ICS

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.

What was the question again?
We hear a lot about what’s stopping the NHS making the most of its army of talented analysts. Some say we just need more data, or data of better quality. Others point to deficiencies in our infrastructure, IT kit or the software we use. But I’m not so sure. For me the biggest shortfall is in good questions that we can feasibly address.

‘Might’ is right
A good idea can be ruined by over-selling.

We saw them before they were famous: reflections on AphA’s away day
In June 1976, the Sex Pistols played Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall.

Appointing an ICS ‘Chief Analyst’
The Strategy Unit has, over the last ten years, developed a way of working that has allowed us to become recognised as a leading analytical organisation in the NHS.

Bringing patient flow modelling into general practice
With general practice appointments hitting the highest numbers on record (34.8 million in England alone in November 2021), careful organisation and planning for patient appointments is increasingly important.

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.

Decision makers can make much better use of analysis
Part of the Strategy Unit mission is to improve the use of analysis in decision making. Current use is, to employ a euphemism, variable.