![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/Insight%20recording.png?itok=HxWnkGul)
News Better use of analysis | Comparative Analysis | Complex Modelling | Economic Analysis | Problem Structuring
INSIGHT 2022 21st November - 2nd December
The Midlands Decision Support Network in association with The Strategy Unit are hosting INSIGHT 2022 our annual festival of learning and sharing events for the NHS, local government and other partners across health and care.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/jordan-whitt-H07Act0XaGY-unsplash.jpeg?itok=Q1GzV_rD)
Blog post Emergency care | Policy | Primary, community and social care services | Public health and prevention
Infant-feeding problems during the pandemic
Emergency department attendances fell dramatically and systematically during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effect was almost universal, affecting people from all parts of society and for all health conditions. But in our recent paper we highlight one notable exception to this rule -presentations at Emergency Departments for infant-feeding problems increased during the pandemic.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%282%29.png?itok=dPoVbbsC)
Blog post Better use of analysis | Problem Structuring
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/website%20image.jpg?itok=G4-lVsbM)
News Complex Modelling | Elective care | Inequalities
Inequalities in access to healthcare - what’s our next move?
Our research, published in the Lancet Regional Health Europe, highlights substantial inequities in access to elective hip replacement surgery. We found no evidence that these inequities reduced between 2006 and 2016.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/pexels-rodnae-productions-6936081.jpg?itok=LaPwRMw2)
News Futures thinking
‘Might’ is right
A good idea can be ruined by over-selling.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/Urgent%20Community%20Response%20test1.jpg?itok=RLtv0lhW)
Blog post Emergency care
Urgent Community Response – What Works?
The Strategy Unit, with our partners Ipsos, has been commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) to provide a long-term national evaluation of the Urgent Community Response programme rolled-out across England. The programme aims to shift resources to home and community-based services as part of the NHS commitment to providing the right care, to the right people, at the right time. And there are a range of outputs from the early work that provide learning for local systems as they develop their services.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/AdobeStock_178075482.jpeg?itok=YdvuTxDU)
News Elective care | Inequalities
Strategies to reduce inequalities in access to planned hospital procedures
UPDATE 10th August: Now including briefing note for Integrated Care Boards on legal duties in respect of reducing inequalities. This report guides ICBs through the process.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/PunkBaby.jpeg?h=702ab45f&itok=7Gi98uiH)
News Better use of analysis
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/carlos-muza-hpjSkU2UYSU-unsplash.jpg?itok=b9ETtw6t)
News
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/blockchain-gb56a223d6_1920.jpg?itok=YN-ioyWn)
Blog post Complex Modelling | Population Mapping
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/alina-grubnyak-ZiQkhI7417A-unsplash.jpg?itok=o-Y-owDF)
News Better use of analysis
‘Developing your ICS Intelligence Functions’: A Free Webinar Series
What is an ‘Intelligence Function’? What value can they add to decision making? How can they be configured and who needs to be involved? What lessons can be drawn from current practice?
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/seth-schwiet-WB3ujiKLJwQ-unsplash.jpg?itok=NSL3g5ag)
News
What do we know about the benefits of digital social care records?
The pace of change in the development and use of digital technology is astonishing. The use of such technology has been an essential element in the health and care services response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, the previously unthinkable became commonplace.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/doctor-g4f30e8919_1920.jpg?h=6f546c7e&itok=k1YtKQbG)
Blog post
Treating people on waiting lists: who decides what is fair?
Waiting lists for elective care are in the news. The national plan has been issued, with the expectation that lists will continue to rise for some years - and that long waiting will not disappear anytime soon. Addressing this ‘backlog’ will remain a fundamental challenge for some time to come.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/clint-adair-BW0vK-FA3eg-unsplash.jpg?h=39f8b092&itok=irqUPXaw)
News Better use of analysis | Futures thinking | Learning and development
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/randy-jacob-A1HC8M5DCQc-unsplash.jpg?itok=zGS70dTb)
Blog post Better use of analysis | Learning and development
The Intellectual Forum: a source of fresh perspectives on decision making
The literature on decision making is like a disaster movie highlights reel. Barely has one calamity registered before another serious misstep takes its place. Case study after case study flashes past, each with its own lessons and warnings.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/logo%2021%20with%20twitter.png?h=0011b5b2&itok=hqiMnBJo)
News Better use of analysis | Inequalities | Learning and development | Policy
Insight 2021
The Midlands Decision Support Network in association with The Strategy Unit hosted INSIGHT 2021 our annual festival of learning and sharing events for the NHS, local government and other partners across health and care (4th – 15th October).
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/1_1.jpg?itok=v5O7u--m)
Blog post Primary, community and social care services
Securing the future of domiciliary care
The Strategy Unit is embarking on an exciting project with WM ADASS, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care Services in the West Midlands to explore the challenges facing domiciliary care and the opportunities that exist to transform and improve the service.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/AdobeStock_278409089_0.jpeg?h=7e8f8da2&itok=eAfMgvYL)
News Better use of analysis | Comparative Analysis | Elective care | Finance and payments | Problem Structuring
Strategy Unit devises a new method for classifying outpatient appointments
The number of outpatient attendances in England is now approaching 100 million each year.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/jordan-whitt-H07Act0XaGY-unsplash.jpeg?itok=Q1GzV_rD)
Blog post Comparative Analysis | Emergency care | Problem Structuring
Infant feeding problems, lockdown and attendance at Emergency Departments: what’s going on?
From our previous work, with Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation, we know that lockdown had a significant effect on attendance at Emergency Departments (ED). We also know that this effect was very unevenly distributed: some demographic groups stayed away far more than others.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_landscape_thumbnail/public/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3768131.jpg?itok=U8bcYtz4)
Blog post
The impact of social care on demand for urgent hospital care: have we reached a consensus?
The care home COVID crisis and the effects of longstanding staffing and funding shortages has meant that social care has featured heavily in the media over the last 12 months.