Breaking down barriers: Include people with vision impairment in decision-making about their lives

By Dr Ifigeneia Manitsa, Research Fellow in Youth Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health School of Psychology, University of Birmingham People with vision impairment, as well as their families, strive for their inclusion in school, work, and society in general. What is being done to achieve this and how far have we come? Research findings … Continue reading “Breaking down barriers: Include people with vision impairment in decision-making about their lives”

Could borrowing for healthcare be good for financial wellbeing?

By Professor Adele Atkinson, Professor of Practice in Financial Literacy and Wellbeing (CHASM) Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology, University of Birmingham Recent reports of people turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions to pay for private healthcare raise some interesting issues from the perspective of financial wellbeing. The Money and Pensions Service … Continue reading “Could borrowing for healthcare be good for financial wellbeing?”

Are you a Barbie girl, living in a Barbie world?

By Dr Sameera KhalfeyLecturer in International Relations, Department of Political Science and International Studies No – and I would like to say thankfully not. Life in plastic is not fantastic. Whilst the Barbie franchise has expanded its representation the doll remains a clear representation of societal expectations and norms. The new Barbie movie, directed by … Continue reading “Are you a Barbie girl, living in a Barbie world?”

Healthcare workers need more ‘time to care’

By Steve Gulati, Associate Professor and Director of Healthcare Leadership at HSMC and former NHS senior executive A UK-wide poll of healthcare workers revealed that most NHS staff think they have too little time to help patients and the quality of care that services provide is falling. This reported reduction in the time to care … Continue reading “Healthcare workers need more ‘time to care’”

“Come on Barbie – let’s go shop!”

By Dr Sarah Montano, Deputy Director of Education (Digital) & Senior Lecturer in Marketing Department of Marketing, University of Birmingham This blog contains spoilers from the film. The launch of the Barbie movie has been highly anticipated. Directed by Greta Gerwig and staring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Barbie suffers an existential crisis that leads … Continue reading ““Come on Barbie – let’s go shop!””

A celebration of the NHS and its migrant workforce

By Steve Gulati, Associate Professor and Director of Healthcare Leadership, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham During my career in the NHS, which included serving on three NHS Trust Boards as a Director with a portfolio covering workforce, organisational development and patient involvement, the debate around and attitudes towards the migrant workforce evolved significantly. … Continue reading “A celebration of the NHS and its migrant workforce”

Unfinished Business – 75 years since the National Assistance Act

By Professor Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public Management, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham The National Assistance Act (1948) reaches its 75th anniversary, and with much less fanfare than the 75th anniversary of the NHS. Social care for working age disabled people, older people and those with long-term mental health conditions … Continue reading “Unfinished Business – 75 years since the National Assistance Act”

Working in a climate of change: how can a future NHS be sustained?

By Dr Ross Millar, Director of Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham The NHS has continued to evolve and reform over its 75 years of existence. But perhaps now more than ever questions are being raised about its future sustainability. The organisational climate of the NHS – often defined as the shared perceptions of … Continue reading “Working in a climate of change: how can a future NHS be sustained?”

Can Labour’s plans bring an end to the damaging blame culture surrounding young men and boys?

By Dr Sophie King-Hill, Senior Fellow, Health Services Management Centre & Jonathan Davis, BA Theology and Religion, Research Assistant on the project ‘We’re in this together’  – sexual harassment in schools: a boys’ voice’, and an active member of Mantality UoB Labour’s ambitions to open discussions with men and boys to combat violence against women … Continue reading “Can Labour’s plans bring an end to the damaging blame culture surrounding young men and boys?”

Do Rishi Sunak’s ‘maths to 18’ plans add up?

By Kalsoom Akhtar, Lecturer in Primary Education (Mathematics), School of Education,University of Birmingham Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement has sparked a lot of discussion on the importance of studying maths for 16 to 18-year-olds, generating a mixed reaction from different sectors of society. As someone who is passionate about maths education, I see the opportunities this … Continue reading “Do Rishi Sunak’s ‘maths to 18’ plans add up?”