Great new paper out about why NHS research ethics/governance systems need reform to fit the needs of much HSR and workforce research. The clinical trial model they are based on is a barrier to good research. Full article (open access) at link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Another paper out from our research on the interface between NHS and private hospitals - this focuses on patients' experiences. Open access at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Don't miss this! Our annual Teddy Chester lecture, this year given by Mary Dixon-Woods. Full details at www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/events/the-a.... Please share/pass on

An honest obit for Rod Liddle - who never missed an opportunity to punch down in his miserable, hateful columns which reeked of his own privilege and power. Ewww.

Mic Wright@brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

NEW | A corrective to the gushing tributes… LIDDLE TO BE CELEBRATED An honest obituary for Rod Liddle, dead at 66, dead inside for many years before that. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/liddle-to-...

Brilliant metaphorical explanation of the cruel game of chance which is social care funding in the UK from @danneidle.bsky.social. There are so many better ways to fund social care than this! taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/07/27/s...

How social care costs work in England - and why it’s mad

One in seven of us will face care costs above £100,000, decided by luck rather than need. We explain how England’s social care charging system really works.

taxpolicy.org.uk

Great blog - but what to do with the current NHS Bill which is fundamentally centralising and controlling, and which (in classic fashion) DHSC has already set about implementing before the legislation has passed. Eg NHS devolution would need strong, democratically credible ICBs (oops)

Nuffield Trust@nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 3mo ago

Burnham has promised to “take power out” of Downing Street and devolve more power to local areas. But how should the new Health Secretary navigate bringing the devolution agenda to the #NHS? Read our blog 👇

1/3 Important read from AcademyHealth on what's happening to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the federal agency that funds research on how to make health care safer, higher quality, and more effective. Read why its dismantling matters far beyond academic research.

AHRQ Is Being Dismantled and the Consequences Will Reach Every Part of American Health Care

The field has rallied to support AHRQ with letters to Congress and HHS, lawsuits, a GAO investigation, and more.

ahsituationreport.substack.com

On every research proposal being submitted (even if I am not leading it and it is led from another university) I have to fill in an online form of MANY pages for a risk assessment. As a health service researcher, this is perhaps my favourite stupid question....

Burnham should show his mettle and grit, grasp the nettle, become PM, call a snap election, win 900 seats, turn around the country, get a late call up for England, and win the world cup 10-0. Not necessarily in that order.

Tim Bale@timbale.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Not sure I agree; but it's maybe worth making two points. 1: What you can't do as a takeover PM is rule out an early election and then call one (Theresa May's mistake). 2: What you can't do as a takeover PM is allow people to believe that you might and then not do it (Gordon Brown's mistake).

It's great, with lots to be excited about and lots to be worried about. This is a particularly striking observation.

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Absolutely terrific magazine piece by @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social. You can read it here, or in the FT Mag in the @ftweekend.com on Saturday:

It’s bizarre really that so much debate is had on banning young people from social media, when things like the Farage riots demonstrate that the vast majority of people who should be banned are grown adults.

You Probably Can't Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder From A Urine Test • Picky eaters, pokey numbers, and powerful confusion

You Probably Can't Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder From A Urine Test

Picky eaters, pokey numbers, and powerful confusion

jamesclaims.substack.com

Rethinking Productivity in the NHS. Join us on 9 June at @alliancembs.bsky.social to explore how productivity can be improved in the NHS, & what this means for other large, complex organisations. Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/improving-... @teraallas.bsky.social @kieranwalshe.bsky.social

Improving Productivity in the NHS

Rethinking Productivity in the Public Sector and the NHS

eventbrite.co.uk

And, here, in much more detail. This is an absolutely critical read for all federally funded scientists and institutions. Now is not the time to sit in the corner, hoping you won't be noticed - now is the time for action. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...

Summary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule

Russell Vought is going destroy American Science

elizabethginexi.substack.com

Rethinking Productivity in the Public Sector & the NHS. Join us on 9 June at @alliancembs.bsky.social to explore how productivity can be improved in the NHS, & what this means for other large, complex organisations. Book on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/improving-... @teraallas.bsky.social

Improving Productivity in the NHS

Rethinking Productivity in the Public Sector and the NHS

eventbrite.co.uk

Laz has made Carson City. He is now 15 days away from reaching San Francisco and finishing his walk across America. #lazcon Final Leg, Day 46

very important piece

Trish Greenhalgh@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 5mo ago

OUR NEW BMJ editorial: Andes virus should reset WHO’s default approach to airborne risk. 🧵 1/ For severe pathogens with person-to-person transmission, the starting point should be precautionary airborne protections — not waiting for definitive proof after spread occurs. www.bmj.com/content/393/...

Er, perhaps @bmj.com marketing department need to hire someone who can use their mailing software!

Latest paper from our research on locum doctors. This one looks at their (non) involvement in learning and professional development and its consequences for them and for the organisations where they work. Full paper at asmepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Good time to remind everyone at University of Manchester that thanks to the judgement and good sense of the academic electorate, we did not end up with Peter Mandelson as our Chancellor in 2015. Despite our then VC and board of governors clearly wanting him. www.theguardian.com/politics/201...

Poet beats Peter Mandelson in race to be Manchester University chancellor

Lemn Sissay – poet, broadcaster and playwright – gets 7,131 votes, beating Hallé music director Sir Mark Elder and the Labour grandee to ceremonial post

theguardian.com

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Abstract submissions for #HSRUK26 are now being reviewed. Thank you to everyone who applied, we’ve been delighted by the volume and quality of submissions this year! Keep an eye on your inbox for outcomes. 📢 Registration (incl. early‑bird discounts!) are open now. Register here ➡️ hsruk2026.org

🌟 HSR UK is recruiting for new Trustees! We're looking for 3 new voluntary Trustees to help shape the future of HSR. If you care about improving NHS and social care services, we’d love to hear from you! 🗓️ Apply by 17 Feb, 5pm 👉 Apply here: www.charityjob.co.uk/volunteer-jo...

When Manchester academics chose poet Lemn Sissay instead of Peter Mandelson to be Chancellor in 2015, against the wishes of senior leadership, it looks like their instincts were right (and SLT were not). www.theguardian.com/politics/201...

Poet beats Peter Mandelson in race to be Manchester University chancellor

Lemn Sissay – poet, broadcaster and playwright – gets 7,131 votes, beating Hallé music director Sir Mark Elder and the Labour grandee to ceremonial post

theguardian.com

If you are 50+, get the Shingrix shingles vaccination because of its protective effect against dementia. If this was a dementia drug the media would be all over it! Summary below from what I think is the best explanation of the science behind this that I have seen from @erictopol.bsky.social .

The Shingles vaccine and reduction of dementia: a new natural experiment from Canada replicated 3 others and adds to this week's link to slowing of biological aging. erictopol.substack.com/p/spotlight-...

Spotlight on the Shingles Vaccine—Again!

Two new studies add to a remarkable body of evidence for benefit

erictopol.substack.com

🚨🇪🇺 Brexit WOW moment 🇪🇺🚨 The Brexitgraph Telegraph published a full-blown obituary for Brexit: 📉 GDP down 8% 📉 Investment down 18% 📉 Productivity down 4% 📉 Employment down 4% ❌ No trade benefits ❌ No regulatory freedom ❌ No upside whatsoever Do you agree it’s time to end Brexit?

When I apply for research funding, even as a co-app on another institution's bid, I have to fill in a huge research risk register form. With questions like this.

Gift link, probably the funniest thing the Wall Street Journal has done this year.

We Let AI Run Our Office Vending Machine. It Lost Hundreds of Dollars.

An AI agent ran a snack operation in the WSJ newsroom. It gave away a free PlayStation, ordered a live fish—and taught us lessons about the future of AI.

wsj.com

Our report just out from the Kings Fund on evidence about what works in health and care regulation, commissioned by the Care Quality Commission - read it at www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Evidence On What Works In Regulating Health And Social Care | The King's Fund

Good regulation drives better services and ultimately helps people live healthier lives. But what does good regulation look like? Our latest research identifies five key challenges facing the Care Qua...

kingsfund.org.uk