Policy@Manchester Articles

Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues

Policy@Manchester Articles: Health and Care
You are here: Home / Archives for Health and Care
Industrial chimney pluming out smoke surrounded by an urban landscape of buildings.

Advanced materials addressing health risks from exposure to benzene

Headshot of Martin Schröder.Headshot of Sihai Yang. By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, Urban, Work Posted:

Benzene, a volatile organic compound (VOC) with widespread industrial applications, poses severe health risks to humans even at trace levels. Its genotoxic effects, which involve direct damage to cellular DNA and genetic material leading to mutations, are strongly linked to cancer and blood disorders, making its control a critical priority for workplace safety and environmental […]

A child's hand holding a toothbrush under a running tap.

Brushing up on oral health: how can health policy prevent tooth decay in children?

Dr Georgios KitsarasProfessor Tanya Walsh By , and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Children’s oral health in England is in crisis, with thousands of children across the country suffering from dental caries, the most prevalent and prominent form of dental disease. In response, the government has promised measures to tackle dental health inequalities. But how can policymakers best implement this plan to ensure it has the desired impact? […]

Closeup of stressed teenage girl talking to mental health therapist in session

Social and Emotional Learning for Every Child: Why SEL Matters

By , , and Filed Under: Education, Health and Care Posted:

As concerns surrounding children’s mental health continue to grow, the role schools can play in supporting children’s mental health is receiving more attention. Universal, school-based interventions known as  “Social and emotional learning” (SEL) interventions, delivered to all children, are a cost-effective and non-stigmatising approach to supporting wellbeing and healthy child development. These interventions aim to […]

Several women practicing football on a grass field

Creating SPACES for young people’s wellbeing

Stephanie RaySamuel Hugh-Jones By , and Filed Under: Education, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Adolescent wellbeing is a predictor of school attainment, adult mental health, relationships, and socioeconomic outcomes. However, the wellbeing of young people in the UK has significantly decreased in the last two decades. Current research into creative health has found increasingly positive links between supporting participation in arts, culture, entertainment,and sports (SPACES) and young people’s wellbeing. […]

3d rendered image of stem cells

Regulation of human embryo models is urgent

By and Filed Under: Health and Care, Research and development, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

Human embryo models are created from stem cells and provide opportunities to study early embryo development in ways that would generally be impermissible if real human embryos were used. Here, Dr Jonathan Lewis and Professor Soren Holm argue that with human embryo models becoming more advanced, regulations governing human embryo research need to be established […]

A hospital signpost, pointing toward the Outpatients Department, and the Maternity Department

From mental health to maternal health: understanding the link

A photo of Dr Holly HopeA photo of Dr Rohna KearneyA photo of Professor Kathryn Abel By , and Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

It is increasingly recognised that women’s health needs are under-resourced, under-researched, and under-funded. But what happens to women for whom multiple health needs overlap? Here, Dr Holly Hope, Dr Rohna Kearney, and Professor Kathryn Abel outline their research into the reproductive health outcomes of women with mental illness, and what is needed from policy and […]

A directory sign at an NHS facility; one arrow points to the sexual health clinic

Did the UK fail in its management of mpox? Lessons for future pandemics

A picture of Maurice NagingtonA photo of Jeremy WilliamsA photo of Jaime By , and Filed Under: Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

In 2022, Europe, the US, and Canada experienced widespread community transmission of mpox, constituting a health emergency. Previously, mpox had been endemic to Central and Western Africa. In the UK, a wide response involving multiple stakeholders was developed. In this article, Dr Maurice Nagington, Dr Jeremy Williams, and Dr Jaime Garcia-Iglesias discuss the findings of […]

Can we upskill the health and social care workforce to meet the growing demand for digital transformation?

Dr Alan Davies headshot photoProfessor Angela Davies By and Filed Under: All posts, Digital Futures, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

There has been growing interest regarding the potential of digital transformation to aid the UK’s health and social care system in its ambition to meet modern demands placed upon it. But what skills do different employees in this sector need – and is the infrastructure in place to support them? Here, Dr Alan Davies and […]

A close up image of a person's hands resting on their knees. Sitting next to them is somebody with a clipboard and pen.

Mind your language: interpreters in Mental Health Act assessments

Photo of Professor Alys YoungRebecca TiptonPhoto of Dr Natalia Rodriguez-Vicente By , and Filed Under: Ethnicity, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Open Minds Posted:

In England and Wales, the Mental Health Act can be used to detain people experiencing a mental health crisis, and who may pose a danger to themselves or others. However, some of those assessed under these powers will not use spoken English. Here, Professor Alys Young, Dr Rebecca Tipton, and Dr Natalia Rodríguez-Vicente explore the effects on the assessment […]

Mind the gap: supporting prison leavers with mental illness

Dr Charlotte Lennox By , and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Open Minds Posted:

Many people in prison have severe mental health problems, but what is being done to help these individuals resettle when released? And how can policy and practice reduce reoffending rates, while ensuring prison leavers with mental illnesses are given the support they need to reintegrate into the community? Here, Dr Jane Senior, Professor Jennifer Shaw, and Dr Charlotte […]

Become a contributor

Would you like to write for us on a public policy issue? Get in touch with a member of the team, ask for our editorial guidelines, or access our online training toolkit (UoM login required).

Disclaimer

Articles give the views of the author, and are not necessarily those of The University of Manchester.

Policy@Manchester

Manchester Policy Articles is an initiative from Policy@Manchester. Visit our web site to find out more

Contact Us

policy@manchester.ac.uk
t: +44 (0) 161 275 3038
The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK