Jenny Hicken
@greatnorthmum.bsky.social
World-class procrastinator. PhD student, Inclusive Education Research Group @northumbriauni.bsky.social. Programme manager @EveryChildNENC.bsky.social. Knowledge Mobilisation Fellow @arcnenc.bsky.social. GMBPsS.
🌍 Newcastle upon Tyne
🌍 Newcastle upon Tyne
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Oh, and just as a by the way, for a purely personal opinion. Try living in a society where you're constantly told you don't/shouldn't exist for one reason or another, or have your life experiences either dismissed out of hand or full on ignored, and then see how important your identity is to you. 4/
December 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Oh, and just as a by the way, for a purely personal opinion. Try living in a society where you're constantly told you don't/shouldn't exist for one reason or another, or have your life experiences either dismissed out of hand or full on ignored, and then see how important your identity is to you. 4/
Things have got that bad in NHS organisational change land that an ICB colleague is taking 900 years of leave just to get away from it.
![Screenshot of email auto-reply saying "Thank you for your email, please note that I am currently on leave returning on 17 December 2925. For any urgent queries please email [redacted] to ensure it is picked up and responded to in a timely manner."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hadcsxdv2hkonst3fj3ccuuu/bafkreierx4rpboo2agi6z7msh7fe3jbxsrumypjlqp6psee2nhv4h2q5jq@jpeg)
December 9, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Things have got that bad in NHS organisational change land that an ICB colleague is taking 900 years of leave just to get away from it.
"Human psychology is complicated. Politics and power, by contrast, tend to be crass, cruel and prone to coming up with completely the wrong questions."
Latest from me: on overdiagnosis, a craze/bandwagon the govt is indulging by commissioning an official review, complete with the clunky blurring of mental illness & neurodivergence www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it | John Harris
Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
"Human psychology is complicated. Politics and power, by contrast, tend to be crass, cruel and prone to coming up with completely the wrong questions."
Every child gets a participation medal at school sports day vibes
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gifted U.S. President Donald Trump a gold trophy, a medal and a certificate.
Trump is the winner of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gifted U.S. President Donald Trump a gold trophy, a medal and a certificate.
Trump is the winner of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
December 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Every child gets a participation medal at school sports day vibes
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
I've never seen anything get down voted so much or so quickly on the BBC site , he's making great numbers as he'd like to say
December 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I've never seen anything get down voted so much or so quickly on the BBC site , he's making great numbers as he'd like to say
Actually jaw-dropping stuff
December 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Actually jaw-dropping stuff
Perhaps worth acknowledging that there are approx 4.5 MILLION children living in poverty in the UK - around 170,000 in the North East alone. Good that govt is patting itself on the back for helping some of them over the next 4 years. I guess the other 4 million can just wait longer.
Labour announces plans to lift 550,000 children out of poverty – UK politics live
Labour announces plans to lift 550,000 children out of poverty – UK politics live
Starmer hails child poverty strategy as a ‘moral mission’ which will include measures to help with childcare and getting families out of temporary housing
My colleague Peter Walker has a full report on the plan, the key new elements of which I’ve pulled out for you below:
As part of what Keir Starmer has described as a “moral mission” for his government, the strategy will include an £8m investment in a pilot scheme across 20 councils with a particular prevalence of homeless families in temporary B&B accommodation, to ensure they are all moved within six weeks. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Perhaps worth acknowledging that there are approx 4.5 MILLION children living in poverty in the UK - around 170,000 in the North East alone. Good that govt is patting itself on the back for helping some of them over the next 4 years. I guess the other 4 million can just wait longer.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
1. There's going to be a lot of talk about over or under diagnosis and the conversation is going to be a mess.
This is because how ADHD and ASD are defined has shifted. An ADHD diagnosis today isn't the same thing as an ADHD diagnosis ten years ago.
This is because how ADHD and ASD are defined has shifted. An ADHD diagnosis today isn't the same thing as an ADHD diagnosis ten years ago.
December 5, 2025 at 7:12 AM
1. There's going to be a lot of talk about over or under diagnosis and the conversation is going to be a mess.
This is because how ADHD and ASD are defined has shifted. An ADHD diagnosis today isn't the same thing as an ADHD diagnosis ten years ago.
This is because how ADHD and ASD are defined has shifted. An ADHD diagnosis today isn't the same thing as an ADHD diagnosis ten years ago.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Children are being pulled into the youth justice system because their early health, education and care needs are not being addressed, according to a new Child of the North report edited by @vp-centre.bsky.social researchers.
Read more 👇
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/childre...
Read more 👇
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/childre...
Children needlessly pulled into justice system because of a lack of timely support, report warns - Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre
Children are being pulled into the youth justice system because their early needs are not being addressed, according to a new report.
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Children are being pulled into the youth justice system because their early health, education and care needs are not being addressed, according to a new Child of the North report edited by @vp-centre.bsky.social researchers.
Read more 👇
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/childre...
Read more 👇
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/news/childre...
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
The government’s new public engagement campaign on SEND has been labelled a 'futile tick-box exercise' by parents, as ministers seek to reassure the sector they are listening
Ministers’ SEND listening campaign 'futile', say parents
But ministers seeks to reassure the sector they are listening
schoolsweek.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The government’s new public engagement campaign on SEND has been labelled a 'futile tick-box exercise' by parents, as ministers seek to reassure the sector they are listening
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Considering Streeting's well stated belief autism, ADHD etc, along with mental health issues, are "overdiagnosed", I won't hold my breath for this doing anything other than being used to cut support, along with opportunities for diagnosis, for people who need it. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
www.bbc.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Considering Streeting's well stated belief autism, ADHD etc, along with mental health issues, are "overdiagnosed", I won't hold my breath for this doing anything other than being used to cut support, along with opportunities for diagnosis, for people who need it. #r4today
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
December 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
This is going to be interesting to watch from a critical perspective. Particularly within the wider context of the impacts of the pandemic, poverty, and political messaging around disability.
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnosis
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:35 AM
This is going to be interesting to watch from a critical perspective. Particularly within the wider context of the impacts of the pandemic, poverty, and political messaging around disability.
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How will children and young people and families be centred in the review?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This makes me a little nervous, especially if they are coming at it from a standpoint of looking for evidence of over-diagnosis. Hopefully will be a good thing if carried out rigorously with the right organisations and lived experience voices involved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses
The health secretary said the aim was to tackle a rising demand for services and the increased pressure on the NHS.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This makes me a little nervous, especially if they are coming at it from a standpoint of looking for evidence of over-diagnosis. Hopefully will be a good thing if carried out rigorously with the right organisations and lived experience voices involved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Join our free Autism Central webinar on 19 Dec with Pete Wharmby on the ‘brain motorway’, where we explore more about monotropism, flow states, self-regulation and stress management: www.autismcentral.org.uk/events/brain...
December 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Join our free Autism Central webinar on 19 Dec with Pete Wharmby on the ‘brain motorway’, where we explore more about monotropism, flow states, self-regulation and stress management: www.autismcentral.org.uk/events/brain...
I find this sort of local "news" website article fascinating, like it's just telling people who live in the North East and already know that Alnwick exists, then Google some facts about the castle and copy a review of the garden off Trip Advisor and hit publish, job done. Who is this for exactly?
The fairy-tale hidden gem castle in this Northumberland coastal town was the real-life Hogwarts in the films and has a deep history within its hallowed halls
Magical Northumberland town with ‘spellbinding’ castle from huge film
Magical Northumberland town with ‘spellbinding’ castle from huge film
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:13 AM
I find this sort of local "news" website article fascinating, like it's just telling people who live in the North East and already know that Alnwick exists, then Google some facts about the castle and copy a review of the garden off Trip Advisor and hit publish, job done. Who is this for exactly?
My 50 most-used words on Bluesky this year suggest I have been on my soapbox a lot
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
My 50 most-used words on Bluesky this year suggest I have been on my soapbox a lot
A timely reminder that any of us are one accident away from needing to navigate the labyrinth of a broken system not fit for purpose - remember this if you ever think disabled people are getting too many benefits.
‘I wish I could say I kept my cool’: my maddening experience with the NHS wheelchair service
‘I wish I could say I kept my cool’: my maddening experience with the NHS wheelchair service
The long read: After I was paralysed in a climbing accident, I discovered how inconsiderate, illogical and incompetent many wheelchair providers can be
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:16 AM
A timely reminder that any of us are one accident away from needing to navigate the labyrinth of a broken system not fit for purpose - remember this if you ever think disabled people are getting too many benefits.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
once more I am begging everyone to do policy based on evidence, not on vibes from the loudest-shouting pressure groups. What the NHS is leaning towards - targeted screening for those most at risk - is the right way to do this. Blanket screening with an unreliable test causes harm.
🔺UPDATED: Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
Start prostate cancer testing regardless of advice, Wes Streeting told
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
once more I am begging everyone to do policy based on evidence, not on vibes from the loudest-shouting pressure groups. What the NHS is leaning towards - targeted screening for those most at risk - is the right way to do this. Blanket screening with an unreliable test causes harm.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
1/ On health inequalities for autistic people the @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report credited the success of the Oliver McGowan Training to coproduction and delivery, but still many autistic people struggle to access healthcare.
Autism Act 2009 - Reports, special reports and government responses - Committees - UK Parliament
Report, special report and government response publications for Autism Act 2009.
bit.ly
November 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
1/ On health inequalities for autistic people the @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report credited the success of the Oliver McGowan Training to coproduction and delivery, but still many autistic people struggle to access healthcare.
I am here for drama school kids doing politics better than any PPE graduate ever has
Hope is here.
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
November 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I am here for drama school kids doing politics better than any PPE graduate ever has
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
1/ The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report notes that the rise in public awareness of autism has not led to better understanding and acceptance of autistic people.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
Autism Act 2009 - Reports, special reports and government responses - Committees - UK Parliament
Report, special report and government response publications for Autism Act 2009.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
1/ The @hlautismactcom.parliament.uk report notes that the rise in public awareness of autism has not led to better understanding and acceptance of autistic people.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
bit.ly/HoLAutActReports
Many autistic people have avoided going out because of worries about how others will treat them.
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
🚨 ♾ Our report out yesterday calls on HM Government to deliver an effective new autism strategy. Open this link committees.parliament.uk/committee/77... to view the following:
- Full report
- Easy Read report
- Report summary with conclusions and recommendations
- Shorthand
- Full report
- Easy Read report
- Report summary with conclusions and recommendations
- Shorthand
New autism strategy must deliver change for autistic people - Committees - UK Parliament
This is the key conclusion reached by the House of Lords special inquiry committee on the Autism Act 2009 in its report ‘Time to deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the new autism strategy’.&...
committees.parliament.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 AM
🚨 ♾ Our report out yesterday calls on HM Government to deliver an effective new autism strategy. Open this link committees.parliament.uk/committee/77... to view the following:
- Full report
- Easy Read report
- Report summary with conclusions and recommendations
- Shorthand
- Full report
- Easy Read report
- Report summary with conclusions and recommendations
- Shorthand
Reposted by Jenny Hicken
Hi, scientist here:
This statement from the Trumpers at CDC is not how scientific truth works.
This is a Merchants of Doubt rhetorical trick. No study can prove a negative. Scientific evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism. 🧪
This statement from the Trumpers at CDC is not how scientific truth works.
This is a Merchants of Doubt rhetorical trick. No study can prove a negative. Scientific evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism. 🧪
This is completely disgusting. Today, the CDC updated their vaccine safety page. It now says:
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
November 20, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Hi, scientist here:
This statement from the Trumpers at CDC is not how scientific truth works.
This is a Merchants of Doubt rhetorical trick. No study can prove a negative. Scientific evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism. 🧪
This statement from the Trumpers at CDC is not how scientific truth works.
This is a Merchants of Doubt rhetorical trick. No study can prove a negative. Scientific evidence shows vaccines do not cause autism. 🧪