🆕 We're kicking off our new blog series #HSRUK25 Unpacked! 🆕 First up: lived expert Chandrika Kaviraj & researcher Andy Bradshaw reflect on co-producing their #HSRUK25 conference session and what real co-production looks like in practice Read it here ⬇️ hsruk.org/hsruk/viewpo...

A huge thank you to our speakers, chairs, delegates, partners and the event team for making this such a brilliant conference! Keep your eyes peeled for our series of follow-up blogs and upcoming researcher network opportunities! And we hope to see you all in Manchester in 2026!

And that's a wrap on #HSRUK25! Thank you to everyone who joined us in Newcastle this week! We are very proud to have hosted a programme full of innovative research, lively discussions and powerful reflections on how HSR can support a fairer and more sustainable health and care system.

Our Future Leader in Health Services And Social Care Research went to Rasa Mikelyte! Congratulations! 🎉

Our Excellence in Inclusion Award went to Emma Giles and Jo Smith: Increasing access to healthy, affordable food for adults living with Severe Mental Illness in Teesside: A co-produced feasibility study. Congratulations! 🎉

Our Best Poster Award went to Nikki Dunne: Snapshots of Sjögren's: A Photovoice Journey Through Living with Sjögren's in Ireland. Congratulations Nikki! 🎉

Our Patient Led Research Award went to Naomi Carlisle and Claire Garner: IMplementation of the Preterm Birth Surveillance PAthway: a RealisT evaluation (including a realist literature scope). Congratulations! 🎉

We're now kicking off the closing plenary of #HSRUK25! Exploring how we can make HSR careers more inclusive, chaired by Alicia O’Cathain, Professor of Health Services Research

‘How do we know if HSR impacts on policy?’ - a great workshop this morning led by @annetteboaz.bsky.social. The workshop was full of ideas of how to do things differently with fantastic engagement in the room! #HSRUK2025 @barbarahanratty.bsky.social

Great #HSRUK25 workshop by Gemma McKenna about engaging government and policymakers, with roleplay (how to talk to your MP) and top tips for writing a policy brief. #KMb

If you’re at day 2 of ‪@hsruk.bsky.social‬ today in Newcastle, here are the sessions you don’t want to miss on improvement research featuring #THISFellows & our researchers.

#AI in healthcare ‘not a magic bullet’. @racheljlawrence.bsky.social presenting our study of procurement & early deployment of #AI in diagnosis lung disease at #hsruk25. #healthpolicy @nuffieldtrust.org.uk @angusramsay.bsky.social

If you’re at #HSRUK25, don’t forget to come and visit us at our stand to pick up some publications, find out more about our latest research and analysis, and learn how you can get involved. Full details on our activities ⬇️ https://bit.ly/44pKSSD

#HSRUK25 great plenary on innovative research to improve workforce efficiency and sustainability. We might already know what doesn't work for the workforce but we don't know what are the different needs and we need to find the solutions. Join the workforce research network to step up and co-create!

Workforce first up today, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37365008/ Really struck by the potential of asynchronous focus groups as a way of allowing busy health care professionals to engage with research #hsruk25

Audience comments suggested we know a lot about workforce issues (increased workload, recruitment and retention, desire for flexibility, burnout) and we now need solutions to address these. Hopes that the new NIHR HSDR Workforce Research Partnerships will address some of these… @hsruk.bsky.social

Day 2 #HSRUK25 plenary focusing on workforce: how will innovative research deliver impact? Methodological reflections: use of realist reviews, novel qual methods (e.g. social media analysis, asynchronous online focus groups) & tiered knowledge mobilisation (local➡️international) @hsruk.bsky.social

Gillian Vance opening #HSRUK25 plenary this morning by highlighting the workload challenges experienced by health & care staff in underserved areas, and how the new NIHR funded partnership for workforce sustainability (Workforce Voices) will research and co-design solutions with local stakeholders.

Our social meet up and run this morning! The best way to start the the second day of the conference ☀️ Thank you to those who joined us and @kieranwalshe.bsky.social for leading and finalising the route! #HSRUK25

Don’t forget our Meet up and Run/Walk is happening bright and early tomorrow morning! We are meeting outside the Frederick Douglass Building at 7:15AM, it’s a great way to start the day, see more of the city - and the forecast is sunny! ☀️ Everyone is welcome to join us!

Pete Bower thanks our panelists and brings the second plenary and Day One of #HSRUK25 to a close! Welcome drinks are now available on the Ground Floor Atrium 🍷

“What happens when we tell our stories?” Lynn Laidlaw, Co-Chair, highlights that “the devil is in the detail” and that participant researchers must be authentically embedded into the research team

Jill Harland outlines how Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust is building awareness of health inequalities in their organisation

Next up, Jill Harland, Health Inequalities Lead Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust outlines her reflections from a service provider perspective #HSRUK25

“It’s really important to have the residents at the heart of this work…the authentic perspectives of local residents.” Jill Davidson outlines key objectives of Northumberland Experiences

“We wanted to understand what life was really like for residents and how the social determinants of health are affecting them…working with Insights North East facilitated implementing a robust research framework.” Jill Davidson, Head of Policy and Performance, Northumberland County Council

“The residents’ voices are equal to data…what is it really like to live in this place? Our resident voices are front and centre to what we do.” Karen McCabe, Senior PH manager, Health Inequalities, Northumberland County Council

What HDRCs need from the research community…#HSRUK25 “We want to work with people who are as passionate as we are.”

“When you listen to people, they will tell you what it’s like” Liz Castle highlights the integral importance and value of community partnership for tackling health inequalities from a HDRC perspective

Liz Castle, HDRC at Newcastle City Council, talks about how Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) have led to local partnerships with academics

“Where you find challenges you find innovation” Chair Professor Peter Bower sets the scene for this plenary, which is being delivered alongside local organisation @insightsnortheast.bsky.social

Our Second Plenary is about to begin! Bridging research and policy: tackling health inequalities in the North East

Starting shortly in Room 2.15, this #HSRUK25 Workshop is part of our Earlier Career Researcher Stream and a great opportunity for facilitated feedback on identifying journals and developing research papers!

Our Pecha Kucha sessions offer a fast-paced and engaging opportunity to hear about a variety of research topics in a rapid, quick fire format! Don't miss the 2nd Pecha Kucha session this afternoon at 3:30pm, and our 3rd tomorrow at 2pm, both in G.41

Don’t forget to join one of our Poster Walkround Sessions! These sessions offer a great opportunity to interact with speakers and hear about a wide range of topics! Happening today and tomorrow during our parallel sessions #HSRUK25

Workforce Researchers! Don’t forget to head to our Meeting Point this lunchtime 12:45-1:45pm for the opportunity to network with fellow workforce peers!

Are you at #HSRUK25? Come and meet Health Foundation colleagues at our research discussions and interactive workshops, and also be sure to visit our stand to pick up some of our publications. Full details of all our activities at the event ⬇️ https://bit.ly/44pKSSD

Workshop happening now in room G.06! Navigating the digital maze: challenges and opportunities in the evaluation of new technologies @healthfoundation.bsky.social

Great opening plenary at @hsruk.bsky.social about how we as H&SC researchers make impact on policy. Lots of useful advice: share green shoots with caveats, involve local MPs, acknowledge different timescales, ensure representativeness throughout, work with third sector to mobilise findings #HSRUK25

Don’t forget to head to our Meeting Point for earlier career researchers, solo and first time attendees for this break! All welcome ☕️

“We’re back where we started…It’s all about relationships.” “It truly is a collective effort. We’ve got a great two days ahead…” Final thoughts from @profjudithsmith.bsky.social drawing our first plenary to a close!

Some great questions submitted by Slido during our opening plenary! We will be answering some of them in upcoming blogs too! Watch this space… 👀

“What are the constraints that the bureaucrat is under?” “Knowing who you need to talk to is key in the political and public opinion context” “It’s a balancing act of sharing findings as you go while also pointing out that the findings might change” Professor Nick Mays

Finally, Professor Nick Mays, Professor of Health Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine provides reflections on what it feels like to be lobbied by researchers

“Build your network early…the more organised voices there are, the more likely they are to listen” “Person centred care needs person centred research” Dr Gemma McKenna, Assistant Professor, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham

Next Dr Gemma McKenna, Assistant Professor, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham reflects on the relationship and processes between research and policy

“My plea is as HSR researchers we neee to not just be thinking “how does it work” but who DOESN’T it work for, and who is overlooked?” “For HSR, none of this exists without social care and we need to remember that in everything that we do.” Professor Barbara Hanratty

Next up, Professor Barbara Hanratty, Director of the Healthy Ageing Policy Research Unit reflects on the challenges of producing research that is used by decision makers “Local, flexible, agile”

“What kind of ideas and concepts does out research generate for those implementing policies?” “Sometimes, you have to say it how it is. If you are confident with your findings, you need to say so.” Thoughts and reflections from Professor Naomi Fulop in our Opening Plenary

“The research we do is and must remain independent…the findings will be the findings. But it’s about taking people with you on that journey.” Professor Naomi Fulop, Professor of Health Care Organisation & Management, UCL