‘SU Insights’ is a series of events hosted by the Strategy Unit, offering a unique platform to explore the latest analytical insights with leading experts. Each session will focus on the findings and their real-world implications. Through diverse perspectives, including those of our partners, associates, and specially invited panellists, SU Insights aims to deliver thought-provoking discussions that drive impactful change.
Past events
Thank you to everyone who joined the SU Insights session Creating an ‘Internal Consultancy’
This event explored insights from academic research - from the Universities of Bristol and York – with practical lessons from the Strategy Unit and NHS Transformation Unit.
The recording is now available for those who missed it or wish to revisit the conversation.
Watch the recording here:
About the event:
The government wants to reduce the use of management consultants. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has argued that spending on consultants “got out of hand under the last Government, and we will rein them in”.
And yet there are good arguments for using consultants. The ability to access flexible support with specialist skills for example. Independence can matter too.
Are there ways of retaining the benefits, while avoiding some of the downsides and excesses associated with ‘consultancy’? Are there ways of creating specialist, flexible from inside public services? And how can ‘internal’ and ‘external’ expertise be combined?
Event highlights include:
- The latest research on ‘Internal’ and ‘External’ management consulting.
- Reflections on experiences of external and internal consultancy - Jessica Boothroyd and Peter Spilsbury
- Panel discussion and Q&A
Key speakers:
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Peter Spilsbury Director, Strategy Unit
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Andrew Sturdy, Professor of Organisation and Management, University of Bristol
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Jessica Boothroyd, Delivery Director, NHS Transformation Unit
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Fraser Battye (Chair), Head of Policy, Strategy Unit
Related content and resources
https://www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/news/are-internal-consultancies-good-option-nhs
Sign up here to be the first hear about future SU Insights events: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Strategy_Unit_Updates/
Stay tuned for future SU Insights sessions, where we continue to explore critical topics in healthcare policy, strategy, and analysis.
Thank you again for being part of this conversation!
Thank you to everyone who joined the ‘SU Insights’ session ‘Downsides of Digital’!
This event in collaboration with the Health Foundation featuring Professor Trish Greenhalgh and experts explored the critical questions on the downsides of digital, drawing on research to reflect the implications of digital technology in health and care.
The recording is now available for those who missed it or wish to revisit the conversation.
Watch the recording here:
About the event:
There is widespread enthusiasm for the use of digital technology in health and care services, and shifting ‘from analogue to digital’ is one of the government’s priorities for the NHS. This shift promises significant gains in efficiency and productivity, and there are growing examples showing its potential in practice.
But are we aware of the trade-offs that come with these advancements? Do we know what losses may accompany promised gains? Are there looming risks and downsides that need more attention? And what do we know already from the implementation of digital technologies? What lessons can be learnt?
Event highlights include:
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Fresh perspectives on the risks of using digital technology in health and care.
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Insights into where digital technology can be helpful or harmful in health care.
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An overview of our recently published discussion document on the downsides of digital
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Engaging presentations and discussions on the latest research, evidence and analysis.
Key speakers:
Fraser Battye, Head of Policy, Strategy Unit
Trish Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford
Ellen Coughlan, Improvement Fellow, Health Foundation
Ben Shemesh, Senior Improvement Analyst, Health Foundation
Mahmoda Begum (Chair), Strategic Communications Lead, Strategy Unit
Related content and resources
What are the downsides of digital? The paper describes the downsides at three ‘levels’: the Relational, the Organisational, and the Environmental. https://www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/publications/what-are-downsides-digital
Resources from the Remote by Default Study presented by Trish Greenhalgh can be found here https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/interdisciplinary-research-in-health-sciences/remote-by-default-2
Resources from The Health Foundation:
Our inaugural ‘SU Insights’ session on Contracting for Health Outcomes, sparked insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of outcomes-based commissioning. The recording is now available for those who missed it or wish to revisit the conversation.
Watch the recording here:
About the event:
The concept of outcomes-based commissioning was heralded as transformative in healthcare about 15 years ago, yet many of these innovative models failed to live up to expectations. This session revisited the topic with fresh perspectives, exploring whether technical developments can make outcomes-based commissioning more feasible today. Our expert panel examined the reasons for past failures and proposed practical, targeted approaches for future success.
Event highlights include:
- Insights into the evolution of outcomes-based commissioning and lessons learned from past efforts.
- Discussion of the latest technical advancements that could enable more successful applications today.
- Engaging panel discussions with leading experts in health economics, policy, and clinical practice.
Key speakers:
- Steven Wyatt, Head of Research and Policy, The Strategy Unit
- Matthew Revell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Executive Medical Director, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS FT
- Martin Campbell, Head of Pricing, NHS England
- Luigi Siciliani, Professor of Health Economics, Centre for Health Economics (University of York)
- Edward Jones, Senior Policy Advisor, NHS Confederation
- And the host for this event - Fraser Battye, Head of Policy, The Strategy Unit
Related content: Contracting for health outcomes: from concept through theory to implementation in Elective knee-replacement surgery https://www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/publications/contracting-health-outco…;
Sign up here to be the first hear about future SU Insights events - Sign up here!
Stay tuned for future SU Insights sessions, where we continue to explore critical topics in healthcare policy, strategy, and analysis.
Thank you again for being part of this conversation!
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