The latest output from our Nuffield Foundation general election briefing and analysis grants looks at social care, an area that often doesn't get the attention it deserves but which is fundamental to the wellbeing of many in UK society, including some of the most vulnerable.

🧵When Sunak delivered his ‘welfare’ set piece last week, he spoke as if the UK has one social security system, centrally controlled by Westminster, but this has not been the case for some time. york.ac.uk/news-and-event…

Social security policy has been devolved to the UK's nations.

But, has it been effective? And what does this mean for people living in different parts of the country?

A major new Nuffield Foundation project, being announced today, will provide the answers.

Watch this space!

My latest article shows that the Universal Credit conditionality regime harms mothers' employment prospects and caring responsibilities regardless of social class, but sometimes the negative effects are exacerbated for working class mothers cambridge.org/core/journals/…

Involuntary closures of for-profit care homes in England by the Care Quality Commission by Anders Bach-Mortensen and colleagues Ben Goodair Michelle Degli Esposti thelancet.com/journals/lanhl…

The UK is facing a prolonged and serious health crisis.

With Bob Klaber Dr Annabel Sir Michael Marmot we outline the urgent need for action on the social determinants of health in our The BMJ Future of the NHS Commission piece.

bmj.com/content/385/bm…

I've been investigating growing use of illegal children's homes to accommodate the most vulnerable kids in the country. My piece for the Observer 1/2
theguardian.com/society/2024/a…

New study by University of Oxford research links hospital privatisation with worse patient care ox.ac.uk/news/2024-02-2…

BBC Panorama investigates patient safety at one of the UK’s biggest private hospital chains

Watch now on BBCiPlayer or on BBC One at 8pm

NHS Patients Going Private: What are the Risks?

bbc.in/3PT6Bfo

Really explosive study by Ashvin Gandhi and Andrew Olenski:

Nursing homes in the US are increasingly buying services from companies with the same owners...

The bombshell: It seems they are overpaying these companies in order to hide profits from their accounts.

Great to see some SNP and Labour MPs citing our (with Aaron Reeves) paper out recently in The Lancet Public Health - all thinking ahead to potential election pledges...

Full paper is available open access here: thelancet.com/journals/lanpu…

📣 ICYMI

A new report from #NuffieldFunded project led by Anders Bach-Mortensen & Ben Goodair.

It emphasises the need for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of for-profit provision on the quality and sustainability of adult social care in England.

📖 thelancet.com/journals/lanhl…