Insight to action blogs - a series of blogs from Lucy Hawkins
April 2023

“Solving complex problems requires new approaches to problem solving…To do this, organisations and communities need to become skilled in mobilising intelligence of all kinds – data, information, insights and ideas. In the 21st century, we believe this will matter as much as mobilising money or power” Nesta (2019).[1]

3 blogs that will take you through:

The NHS as an anchor institution: addressing fuel poverty
Urgent and emergency care, Wider determinants of health and prevention
March 2023

The number of households in fuel poverty in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (SSoT) is higher than the national average. As anchor institutions, NHS organisations can use their assets to influence the health and wellbeing of their local communities. The Strategy Unit was asked by the Midlands NHS Greening Board to evaluate a cross-sector initiative in SSoT to help alleviate fuel poverty using savings generated through solar panels on NHS buildings. The project is called Keep Warm, Keep Well.

Population health implications of the Covid-19 pandemic
MDSN, Mental health, Urgent and emergency care
January 2023

​​Our new report for The Midlands Decision Support Network (MDSN) presents findings of the effects of the care disruption, from the Covid-19 pandemic, on population health. The in-depth analysis identifies which patients and health conditions should be the focus of future efforts in reducing inequalities caused by the pandemic. ​

MDSN: Decision-making by senior leaders to support recovery from COVID
MDSN
December 2022

This paper summarises experiences of Integrated Care System leaders in making strategic decisions to support recovery of services from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper is a short version of findings from a research study conducted during Q3 2021/22, drawing on interviews of eight out of the forty-two Integrated Care System (ICS) leaders in England. It summarises their experiences of strategic decision-making prior to and since the pandemic, including the process they followed and constraints they have experienced.

Evaluating and embedding social values in procurement at East London NHS Foundation Trust
System thinking and system working
November 2022

This report presents emerging findings from the early development stages of a social value approach to procurement by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT). These findings provide insights for other organisations beginning to explore how to use procurement to contribute to improving health and reducing health inequalities.