@stephen-rocks.bsky.social
This is the debate we want: focussed on practical fixes that join up drivers with real world experience of the health system - discharge, estates, data, incentives, performance
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
This is the debate we want: focussed on practical fixes that join up drivers with real world experience of the health system - discharge, estates, data, incentives, performance
On tech: technology fails when it isn’t applied to redesigned operations or only fixes one silo. We’re clear that innovation will only meaningfully improve productivity when implemented within redesigned pathways that remove bottlenecks - not bolted onto old processes
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
On tech: technology fails when it isn’t applied to redesigned operations or only fixes one silo. We’re clear that innovation will only meaningfully improve productivity when implemented within redesigned pathways that remove bottlenecks - not bolted onto old processes
On capacity: Steve compares the NHS to a restaurant hiring more chefs without more cookers or tables
This analogy fits our depiction of the pandemic shock. In our report we show the NHS added more hospital staff into a constrained system, helping explain the NHS's bigger productivity hit than peers
This analogy fits our depiction of the pandemic shock. In our report we show the NHS added more hospital staff into a constrained system, helping explain the NHS's bigger productivity hit than peers
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
On capacity: Steve compares the NHS to a restaurant hiring more chefs without more cookers or tables
This analogy fits our depiction of the pandemic shock. In our report we show the NHS added more hospital staff into a constrained system, helping explain the NHS's bigger productivity hit than peers
This analogy fits our depiction of the pandemic shock. In our report we show the NHS added more hospital staff into a constrained system, helping explain the NHS's bigger productivity hit than peers
On four drivers: the NHS is a complex system. As we say in our report, the causes of the NHS productivity slowdown are multifaceted and interdependent; they must be tackled together, not with isolated fixes
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
On four drivers: the NHS is a complex system. As we say in our report, the causes of the NHS productivity slowdown are multifaceted and interdependent; they must be tackled together, not with isolated fixes
(Should say that is capped at a minimum of 50,000 admissions per year, so not very small specialties)
October 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
(Should say that is capped at a minimum of 50,000 admissions per year, so not very small specialties)
If you are interested in the drop in emergency admissions, here's the 10 conditions that are lowest vs pre pandemic trend
October 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
If you are interested in the drop in emergency admissions, here's the 10 conditions that are lowest vs pre pandemic trend
And here's roughly same for the 4-hour A&E constitutional standard. This looks more plausible (although let's see what happens this winter). One big question is why the target is only 85% rather than the 95% standard - perhaps less ambition for emergency care than electives, or just more realism
October 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
And here's roughly same for the 4-hour A&E constitutional standard. This looks more plausible (although let's see what happens this winter). One big question is why the target is only 85% rather than the 95% standard - perhaps less ambition for emergency care than electives, or just more realism
Not a problem; I enjoy your general critique of productivity policy. I was only keen to defend this exercise. (I do think a forecast provides value independent of an analysis of ideal policies, albeit we did also explore some of those enabling factors)
October 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Not a problem; I enjoy your general critique of productivity policy. I was only keen to defend this exercise. (I do think a forecast provides value independent of an analysis of ideal policies, albeit we did also explore some of those enabling factors)
Don't blame the experts, blame the task! This was a specific exercise with tightly constrained questions - at the heart of which was 'what will happen' to productivity, rather than what should happen. The blog is necessarily brief and doesn't do justice to the richness of the conversation.
October 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Don't blame the experts, blame the task! This was a specific exercise with tightly constrained questions - at the heart of which was 'what will happen' to productivity, rather than what should happen. The blog is necessarily brief and doesn't do justice to the richness of the conversation.
Reposted
fully agree. i wrote this a couple of years ago about this!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
More cancer screenings sounds like good news. But can the NHS cope with them? | Christina Pagel
Earlier detection means more successful treatment – but also a drain on resources for an already creaking health service, says Christina Pagel, professor of operational research at UCL
www.theguardian.com
August 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
fully agree. i wrote this a couple of years ago about this!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...