The mythbuster
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Lansley’s original sin
The Lansley reforms failed primarily due to severe cuts in NHS management capacity, as highlighted by Darzi, overshadowing any potential benefits of the original restructuring philosophy, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Health screening is a suspect policy
The evidence says many screening programmes are actively detrimental, while others are a waste of money writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The Blair Institute’s faith in AI is a distraction
The Tony Blair Institute’s report on NHS AI integration overemphasises AI’s potential while neglecting practical solutions for NHS data improvement
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: How the NHS gets productivity wrong
Real efficiency gains come from improving the overall mix of resources, not just increasing the number of clinical staff
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: What the death of 400 squirrels can teach the NHS about accountability
Blaming people for problems without giving them the power to fix them creates a significant gap in meaningful accountability, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The NHS does not know how to plan
Steve Black highlights how the NHS struggles with effective planning, often producing unrealistic or uncoordinated plans that fail to achieve their intended goals.
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The argument for abolishing the CQC
Steve Black argues the Care Quality Commission needs radical reform or even abolition because of its flawed approach to inspections and lack of expertise
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The idea that AI can solve major NHS problems is marketing snake oil
Despite claims that AI can solve NHS problems, we need to be sceptical of overblown promises and invest wisely in proven solutions, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: What should Darzi do?
Steve Black highlights the need for Lord Ara Darzi’s review of NHS performance to focus on diagnosing systemic issues through comprehensive evidence gathering, rather than jumping to premature solutions.
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Is bringing back PFI a necessary evil?
Steve Black believes the PFI was a flawed approach to securing capital investment for the NHS, but suggests its revival might - nevertheless - be welcome.
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Why the NHS is beset with bad decision making
The NHS must prioritise thorough policy testing, address root causes over symptoms, and consider long-term impacts for sustainable improvement says Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The three things that matter more than increased NHS funding
Steve Black outlines three policy areas that are more important to improving NHS performance than increasing the service’s budget.
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Streeting sees the light on emergency care
Labour’s manifesto priorities overlook emergency care. Thank heaven then that Wes Streeting has committed to recovering A&E performance, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The weak link in the NHS chain that politicians wilfully ignore
Steve Black highlights the crucial role of management and support staff in improving healthcare delivery and cybersecurity resilience
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: Cut staff to protect long-term investment
The NHS needs to make tough financial decisions now to create funds for crucial long-term improvements, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: If Wes Streeting becomes health secretary, what should he do first?
Steve Black’s advice to the aspiring next health and social care secretary, on how to build a better NHS.
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: NHSE sees the light on productivity
NHS England changing its stance on NHS productivity is a major positive, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: One rule for the DHSC, another for the NHS
NHS capital spending, though well-intentioned, suffers from systemic flaws, leading to delays, inefficiencies, and unintended consequences, writes Steve Black
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The NHS should not scrap the four hour A&E target
Steve Black reviews the old and new arguments against the four hour target and why the NHS should not give up on it
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Daily InsightThe mythbuster: The hard choices the NHS avoids
Steve Black highlights how the NHS should opt for tough choices over popular solutions for sustainable improvement and productivity enhancement