📢Today, ASH launches our new 2025–2030 strategy to end the harm caused by tobacco. Our goals: ❤️No one starts 🚭Everyone stops 📉No profit in tobacco Find out more: ash.org.uk/about/who-we...

🚨 We’re hiring: Senior Research Advisor 🕐 12-month FTC 📍 Home-based (UK, occasional travel) 💷 £60,000 + benefits 📅 Deadline: 7 July 2025 🔗 Apply: www.stroke.org.uk/working-with... Why this is a rare opportunity 👇🧵

We were lucky enough to have our YouGov/The Economist poll in field when the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. You can see the partisan realignment in real time

Maps where you’d rather not be the red country- WHO data shows the UK has high premature mortality, especially in CVD. Hanne Christensen flags that where countries spend more money on stroke care, they have better outcomes - and that advocacy for stroke is key. #ESOC2025

I had a sneak peek at some data which is being published by Meta today, showing that Britain is less divided by class than you might expect: www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Trying to divine the govt's overal delivery philsophy for health seems rather tough at the moment. Is it a) command and control, b) neighbourhood health, c) ICS-devo, d) 10yr plan, e) wider health mission, f) etc. Anyone actually know and how this coherntly ties together?

As we're all trying to read the tea leaves of health policy in the month ahead, an EXCELLENT analysis from Siva Andaciva at King's Fund to help- well worth the read: www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Brilliant statement by @nuffieldtrust.bsky.social, starting with recognizing the human cost associated with abolishing NHSE. I know so many brilliant and dedicated NHSE staff who work tirelessly for patient safety and improved outcomes 1/

It's a busy day for #NHS news! We've been responding. 👇 The Prime Minister announced that #NHSE is to be abolished. The government should be careful that this doesn’t lead to even more top-down micro-management of local services from Whitehall. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/nh...

Fantastic session from our diversity in clinical trials event. Keywords for chair Jacob Lant are co-production, authenticity, trust. They help more diverse communities take part in clinical trials. @amrc-uk.bsky.social @nationalvoices.bsky.social @nras-uk.bsky.social @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social

The populist right is damaging US science. Here's what I think we should be doing to ensure that the UK does not suffer the same fate. 🧵 1/37

The populist right is damaging US science. The UK could be next. New from @kityates.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/kityates...

For Wes Streeting to say “I’m trying to break the culture of the voluntary sector and the way that it lobbies government...” is a gross insult to those who work tirelessly to support people and campaign for change, against growing need and diminishing resources. www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...

Do you have a PhD in Psychology, Neuroscience or Neuroimaging & are looking for a post-doc? Do you want to join a friendly lab? Do you want to live in Norwich (UK) - gorgeous city close to the beach? You can surf, meet seals, do wonderful walks, eat gelato & enjoy gorgeous sunsets!

All eyes on NHSE and PM this morning - a new plan comes out to cut waiting lists. What does it mean, especially for people affected by stroke? Increased appts in community diagnostic centers, more choice through NHS app, more surgical hubs created. 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It'll be another single year GP contract for 2025-26, definitely no multi-year deal till after 10-year-plan and spending review, Wes Streeting has confirmed in letter to Commons H&SC committee

Professor Martin James wins the #UKSF2024 outstanding achievement award for all that he does to knit together the stroke community around quality improvement and all he does for stroke survivors. I can’t think of anyone more deserving - not only for all he brings to the stroke…

Dr. Michael Hill highlights just how impactful mechanical thrombectomy can be - if services can provide an MT quickly. Time and speed is the MOST IMPORTANT factor in getting great outcomes.

Great conversation and ideas from the UK stroke community today on the 10 year health plan #UKSF2024. You all have brilliant ideas so make sure you get your voice heard either on change.nhs.uk/en-GB/ AND/OR in any engagement events that happen in your area of work.

Hints of blue sky and sunshine as I review slides ahead of #UKSF24. Nothing like a quiet morning train to focus the mind. If you’re attending the conference, come have your say on the 10 year health plan at our workshop tomorrow (11:30am) or just come say hello at the Stroke Association stand!

Great health policy starter - so helpful!

Ok here’s a thread of feeds that aren’t topic themed but utilitarian and do things like show you different versions of your timeline or provide services that should be official Bluesky features. 🧵

And this is why #workforce planning is so important! We have a total mismatch between where older people are and where our workforce to support them is #bgsconf #gerisky

I’ve managed to find 27 NHS Trusts on here so far. Interesting to see who the early adopters are go.bsky.app/5n8tyzu 🦋

Gillian Leng to lead new review into physician associate role www.thetimes.com/article/3f32...

Check out the UK medical research charity starter pack. Thanks @mehwaesh.bsky.social !

This is such a lovely article on ‘never words’ to ferret out of medical language. Human-centered in every way.

I've only been working with the stroke community for a little over a year - each time, i'm struck by their passion, committment, and incredible dedication to supporting stroke survivors in their recovery. I want to start there because i think it would tell only half the story to talk about... 1/

I’m hiring the final senior role in my team: Head of Health Systems Partnerships. You’ll lead a brilliant team, working regionally, nationally, and internationally to improve stroke care by harnessing data and centering survivor experiences in quality improvement. Check it out:

Health checks boost early diagnosis for hypertension, high cholesterol & kidney disease. Govt’s plan to bring checks to workplaces is promising—now we need to increase the uptake & reduce inequalities.

Think today might be Blue Friday as the numbers here explode. Do say hi if your charity is new here and I'll add you to the pack. #BlueFriday

A beautiful autumnal day in London. Even with the chaos that is 3 kids starting a new school year, this is one of my favorite times of year - the change of the seasons, the promise of a new year draws me in even if my school days are long gone.

Former Leeds city council chief exec and health/care integration achiever Tom Riordan appointed 2nd perm sec at DHSC. Some good news at last for social care.

Anyone in London smell all the smoke this morning by the Thames? My run was hazy and smoky but can’t find anything reported in the news.

Okay I think you are ready for this BlueSky. Let's talk cheese history. More specifically, Yorkshire Dales cheeses, and how WW2 and rationing almost wiped out cheesemaking in northern Britain. This is the story of the near-death of the world of one of the world's great cheeses: Wensleydale. /1 🧵

Good news this friday! Most people don't know that stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the UK and the fourth leading cause of death - helping people manage the risk factors that lead to stroke is very welcome indeed - especially by making it easier for people to attend health checks!

Another excellent long read from Nuffield. The implications around widening health inequalities and setting up a two tier system of healthcare are real and concerning. The whole article is worth the read but the following paragraphs capture the worry.

I've accumulated enough new people/organisations to create an additional health services research starter pack. @johnmacartney.bsky.social how did I miss you first time round?? Still loads of spaces so please send me anyone you'd like to add who isn't already in starter pack 1. go.bsky.app/LrDQi2E

@gemabbott.bsky.social is looking to grow the charity folk starter packs - i know there's quite a few of us around. Check out the below and please, shamelessly self-nominate if you're not in the original starter pack. That's one of the many ways to make this a thriving community with great dialogue!

The Kings Find is recruting for my replacement as Director of Policy more details here and closing date end of Sept starfishsearch.com/jobs/kings-f...

BMA have new report out today calling for further action on vapes. Strongly agree with a lot of what they say but limiting flavours requires careful thought if we’re to ensure vapes still function as quitting aids. The brilliant Dr Matt Evison on this on BBC Breakfast: x.com/bbcbreakfast...

The below added a lot to my understanding of how Bluesky works - it reflects my ‘few weeks old’ experience here - it’s fun, engaging, and has content I WANT to see. This is now the app I reach for bc the people I want to hear from are visible. Give it a listen to hear what makes this app different.

We’re offering up to £150k Global Innovation Fellowships to UK based humanities and social sciences scholars on the below themes in eligible countries. You’d work with a (non academic) partner organisation of your choice - eg community organisation www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/oda-...

New research in Scotland suggests the 10% of emergency department patients with multiple conditions have worse outcomes, and relative impact is worse for younger people. bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/3/1/...

We're hosting a big policy conference in Westminster on 12 September - Policy Live. @nestauk.bsky.social and BIT. A fab day of sessions on major policy challenges, mission driven methods, etc. Agenda and sign-up details here! www.eventsforce.net/nesta/272/ag...

This is such a thoughtful and thought-provoking long read from @theasrstein.bsky.social on NHS productivity. I've seen incredibly outcomes from stroke teams that have the following principles woven into their ways of working, even in the face of huge system challenges.

However bad the last few years of government, the fundamental problem remains that the UK wants low taxes and high spending, and in an ageing society which adversely affects both sides of that equation, that's no longer tenable.

Failed to resist jumping into the debate about dashboards, nerve centres, and missions in government. Inspired by @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social and others medium.com/@jamestplunk... (I'm trying a new era of not posting this on Twitter at all, so grateful for RTs to help me hold out!)

It's tuesday, a ton of health policy peeps are joining Bluesky and starter packs are an easy way to start finding people - here's a hopefully helpful list of health policy/research starter packs (also, this is is starting to feel very inception-y as i quote tweet my own post of others' posts).

Heather in bloom, sunshine (even rainbows!), bagging 4 new Wainwrights as a family - these are a few of my favorite things.