
A free guide to support high quality evaluation in the NHS
The Strategy Unit issues free guide to evaluation principles and practice

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence: a significant new win
The Strategy Unit, the Health Economics Unit and Leicester Clinical Trials Unit have been announced as evaluation partners to support success in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health and Care Awards.

End of Life analysis: what next? A perspective from Catherine Walshe
‘In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes’.

A learning NHS and ‘black box’ analysis aren’t compatible
Data analysis presents a limitless opportunity to improve decision making within the NHS.

End of Life analysis: what next? A perspective from Seamus O'Mahony
In this blog, the author of ‘The Way We Die Now’ - Seamus O’Mahony – sets our findings into a broader context. He also examines one topic raised in our analysis: chemotherapy at the end of life.

Sir Simon Stevens congratulates the Midlands Decision Support Centre
We’re delighted that Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of the NHS, has recognised the vital role of high-quality analysis.

Mental Health Surge Model
Early in the Covid pandemic, it became clear that people’s mental health would suffer. Whether through bereavement, unemployment, social isolation, not being able to access support services – or a host of other routes – an alarming picture began to emerge and attract attention.

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.
COVID-19: breaking the cycle of deprivation and ill health
Promoting whole-system action on the wider determinants of healthy life expectancy in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic

Making sense of evidence
It's time to celebrate World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day. In a world dominated by COVID-19 and the associated infodemic, this day arguably has more resonance. Closer to home, EBHC Day also coincides with our Insight 2020 festival and the launch of the Midlands Decision Support network. What better opportunity to ask, 'what does evidence-informed decision making actually mean'?

The bigger picture
Today, the Health Foundation launched the REAL Centre (Research and Economic Analysis for the Long term), an incredibly important initiative to imp

Health service use in the last two years of life
Health and care services get just one opportunity to support people at the end of their life. When this support is compassionate and appropriate, unnecessary suffering can be avoided and grieving can be eased. When this is not the case, harm and distress can result. The difference in these experiences can be profound.

Socio-economic and environmental impact of Herefordshire and Worcestershire STP
Anchor institutions are large, typically non-profit, public sector organisations whose long-term sustaina
Insight 2020 - Week 6: Making the most of our decision-making resources
The final week’s theme was a reflection on what had been heard in the previous weeks.We thoug
Insight 2020 - Week 5: The decision-making toolkit
Decision-making is an art; we can train at it, rehearse and access tools to support us.
Insight 2020 - Week 4: Exploring Health Inequalities
COVID-19 has shone a light on health inequalities; it has “laid bare our longstanding social, economic and political inequalities…” (BMJ,
Insight 2020 - Week 3: Analytical priorities of the Decision Support Network
The Midlands Decision Support Unit Network has defined its analytical priorities for 20/21.
Insight 2020 - Week 2: The role of the Decision Support Network
The Midlands Decision Support Unit (DSU) Network is a new and emerging approach to bring together analytical resource a
Insight 2020 - Week 1: Our decision making context in 2020
Transformation in health and care has been rapid and intensive, particularly in 2020.

How can we learn from changes in practice under COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen rapid changes in ways of working.