Top Menu

  • GitHub
  • Midlands Analyst Network and Huddles
  • SU Insights
  • Sign up for updates
The Strategy Unit

Main navigation

  • About Us
  • Our work
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Training
  • GitHub
  • Midlands Analyst Network and Huddles
  • SU Insights
  • Sign up for updates
  1. Home

Our work

  • Show all
  • Better use of analysis and decision making
  • Primary, community and social care services
  • (-) System thinking and system working
  • Wider determinants of health and prevention
  • Urgent and emergency care
  • Inequalities
  • Elective / planned care
  • End of life
  • Mental health
  • Maternity services and child health
  • Specialised services
  • MDSN
  • (-) Show all
  • Futures thinking
  • Strategy development
  • Learning and development
  • Problem structuring
  • Evaluation and impact assessment
  • Evidence reviews
  • Complex modelling
  • Options appraisal
  • Economic analysis
  • Population mapping
  • Show all
  • Report
  • (-) Blog post
  • Tool
  • Long read
  • Guide
  • News
  • (-) Podcast
  • (-) Show all
  • Abeda Mulla
  • Alison Turner
  • Chris Beeley
  • Clare Humble
  • David Frith
  • Fraser Battye
  • James Sandy
  • Josh Cook
  • Karen Bradley
  • Mark Thompson
  • Natasha Stephenson
  • Peter Spilsbury
  • Romaana Kapadi
  • Shiona Aldridge
  • Steven Wyatt
  • Zaheera Teladia
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.

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. ​

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’

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.

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.

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.

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?

Old medicine bottles
Blog post 16/07/2024

The risks of risk stratification

Medical history is full of bizarre and gruesome procedures.

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.

Gartner Hype Cycle
Blog post 14/05/2024

Outcome-based commissioning: can we rescue promise from the rubble of hype?

The first effect of policy is on expectations. In every case I can think of, the effect is inflationary.

Blog post 26/10/2023

How data makes things worse

All light brings shade. My list of ‘changes that have been all upside and no downside’ is short and debatable.

 An ophthalmologist examining a patient's eye with an ophthalmoscope
Podcast 09/10/2023

Review of Ophthalmic Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) in Staffordshire and Shropshire

The aim of the MCNs is to bring together primary care optometrists with local ophthalmologists within a geographical area. This is a review Strategy Unit were commissioned by NHS England to work with a medical retina MCN in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and a glaucoma MCN in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, to review their work so far and look at the opportunities the networks present.

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).

Blog post 21/04/2023

Could a peer review methodology help drive continual learning within and across local systems?

In this blog Karen describes how peer review methodologies are being used to support learning in Long COVID services.

Blog post 08/06/2022

‘Might’ is right

A good idea can be ruined by over-selling.

Blog post 11/03/2021

A framework for understanding policy change

A new policy, strategic direction or major programme is announced.

Blog post 03/03/2021

Localism and the NHS: a case in four stories

In this blog, Fraser Battye makes the case for localism in the NHS. He tells four short stories. He suggests that these stories highlight an opportunity as the NHS enters a period of reform.  

Blog post 30/10/2020

Why are deaths set to rise?

In our recent analysis of healthcare use in the last 2 years of life, we point out an important change that’s taking place to life and death in the UK. 

Blog post 18/12/2018

Let’s face the music and (not) dance

David Frith leads our strategy consultancy work with NHS and third sector organisations.

Blog post 10/10/2018

Lessons from the Vanguard: Innovation and Evaluation

The problems facing health and care services are so well known as to be documented in the media most days.

Pagination

  • Next page Next
The Strategy Unit
NHS Logo

Quick Links

  • COVID-19
  • Publications
  • News and Views
  • Contact
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility statement

The Strategy Unit 

Copyright © 2025 | Website design by NHS Midlands and Lancashire / NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands.

Accessibility

100%
100%
Scroll to top