Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Kieran Walshe Filed Under: All posts Posted:
The NHS has faced massive change under the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, combined with a huge financial crisis, an ageing population and more demand for its services than ever. Kieran Walshe argues that this has led to a ‘shadowy’ era where decisions are being made rapidly, without the legislative processes and periods of […]
By Julia Segar, Anna Coleman and Kath Checkland Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted:
Devolving health and social care in Greater Manchester is an attractive idea. But will the practical challenges undo it ask Kath Checkland, Julia Segar and Anna Coleman. Devolution has been coming to Greater Manchester (GM) for some time. The recent announcement that the total health and social care budget for GM – £6bn – is […]
By Stephanie Snow Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
A new report in the British Medical Journal on centralising acute stroke services in Greater Manchester and London reveals the revolution in stroke care and treatment over the last twenty years – and it contains vital lessons for patients and policymakers, explains Dr Stephanie Snow. Around 152,000 of us will suffer from stroke in the […]
By Kieran Walshe Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Evidence is short that competition leads to improved healthcare performance, says Prof Kieran Walshe. Collaboration and service integration is a better policy goal. For some time – under both this government and its predecessor – there has been a powerful ideological belief that competition leads to improvements in performance in healthcare. It’s a belief unshaken […]
By Kathryn Oliver Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Ignore middle managers at your peril. They may be central to development and implementation of policy, explains Dr Kathryn Oliver Middle managers are more important than people often think – and that is very true when it comes to influencing and implementing public health policy. In fact, middle managers without a professional training in public […]
By Julia Segar Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The major reforms stemming from the Health and Social Care Act 2012 have permeated Saturday night television, writes Dr Julia Segar. But while Clinical Commissioning Groups may have made it onto BBC One’s Casualty, a recent storyline misrepresented their ability to hold A&E departments to account; although given the complexity of the new system, this is perhaps […]