• In Focus

    Oak National Academy: Impact on the publishing and educational technology sectors

    The government created the Oak National Academy during the Covid-19 pandemic to support remote learning. It has since been converted into an arms-length body that is focused on supporting teachers. Concerns have been raised that the creation of a body that provides free resources for teachers could negatively affect commercial suppliers. However, the government had argued that this impact would be lower than predicted by the market.

  • In Focus

    Mortality rates among men and women: impact of austerity

    Improvements in life expectancy have slowed in the UK since the early 2010s. A recent study argued there have been over 300,000 excess deaths during this period, when comparing trends in life expectancy with those from before 2011. The authors of the study argue this is a result of austerity policies pursued by the government. The subject is due to be debated in the House of Lords on 12 January 2023.

  • In Focus

    Preparing for extreme risks: Lords committee report

    In December 2021, the House of Lords Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee published a report which examined the UK’s approach to risk assessment and management. It found that the Covid-19 pandemic had revealed that the UK’s risk management system was “deficient” and “too inflexible” to protect the country from risks. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate the report on 12 January 2023. This article examines the report and the government’s response.

  • In Focus

    Cost of living: The healthcare ecosystem

    This article explores how the rising cost of living has affected the UK healthcare ecosystem. Rising energy prices and food insecurity can lead to an increasingly ill population, while staff shortages and high hospital bills add pressure to the health system. In November 2022, the UK government announced an £8bn spending increase for health and adult social care, but some organisations have said it is not enough.

  • In Focus

    Cost of living: Impact of rising costs on disabled people

    Disabled individuals and their households have, on average, lower incomes than their non-disabled counterparts. They often incur additional costs related to the treatment and mitigation of their disability. Furthermore, they typically spend a greater share of their income on food and energy, the commodities driving the current surge in inflation. In recognition of Disability History Month—running from 16 November to 16 December this year—this article considers how disabled individuals and their households are impacted by the rising cost of living.

  • In Focus

    Staff shortages in the NHS and social care sectors

    Recent data has revealed that the number of vacancies in the NHS and social care sectors has increased since September 2020. Health bodies and organisations have warned that such shortages have affected, and will continue to affect, patients. In recent years, successive governments have introduced measures to tackle staff shortages, including commissioning the NHS to publish a long-term workforce strategy and publishing a white paper on reforming adult social care.

  • In Focus

    ‘Fit for the future? Rethinking the public services workforce’: Public Services Committee report

    In July 2022, the House of Lords Public Services Committee published a report on the future of the public services workforce. It argued that public sector staffing was “facing a crisis” due to a “vicious circle” of increasing demand, staff shortages, low morale and recruitment issues. The committee observed that these problems were not unsolvable, but said current efforts were at “far too small a scale”. It made recommendations which it argued, if implemented, would make a “substantial difference” and “secure a more sustainable public services workforce for the future”.

  • In Focus

    Independent review of children’s social care

    In its 2019 manifesto the Conservative Party committed to undertaking an independent review of children’s social care. The review published its final report in May 2022. The report argued that a “radical reset” in children’s social care was needed and made recommendations on how to achieve this.

  • In Focus

    Bird flu 2022: Dealing with the UK’s largest ever outbreak

    In 2022, the UK has experienced its largest outbreak of bird flu, and experts have warned that infections could rise even higher over the winter of 2022–23. The outbreak has led to the death of 97 million birds globally (3.8 million in the UK), with significant consequences for agriculture and the environment. In response, the UK government has imposed mandatory housing for all poultry, amended its culling compensation scheme and relaxed the sale regulations of defrosted poultry.

  • Research Briefing

    Health Promotion Bill [HL]: HL Bill 24 of 2022–23

    The Health Promotion Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat) seeking to amend the name and focus of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. For example, it would require the newly defined office to work collaboratively with other departments on a national plan for sport. This follows recommendations from the National Plan for Sport and Recreation Committee intended to improve levels of physical activity in the country.

  • In Focus

    Celebrating national women’s sport teams’ achievements

    National women’s sport teams have seen multiple successes in recent years. England’s victory at the UEFA Women’s Championship 2022 shone the spotlight on how these successes should be honoured and legacies built upon. Recent data has shown that women’s sport audiences have increased since the women’s European championship, and the government has made several commitments to build upon this momentum.

  • In Focus

    Housing in England: Issues, statistics and commentary

    A range of issues have been raised about housing in England, including the supply and affordability of homes and their quality and suitability for the future. This article provides a selection of statistics on these issues, as well as further reading and commentary on the long-term policies needed to deal with them.

  • In Focus

    Meeting housing demand: Built Environment Committee report

    In January 2022, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee published the report ‘Meeting housing demand’, which argued that the government should remove the “administrative and other blockers” that prevent increased housing supply. Ahead of a House of Lords debate on the report on 8 November 2022, this article summarises the report, the government’s response and recent developments in housing and planning reform policy.

  • In Focus

    Ambulance handovers: Delays and threat of strike action

    There have been reports of increased delays in ambulance handovers in England, with concerns raised about the effect of this on patient health and the ability of ambulances to attend other emergencies. This article provides statistics on ambulance handovers and information on what the government and the NHS are trying to do to alleviate handover delays. It also covers the recent ambulance workers unions’ announcement of possible strike action.

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