Reform's research and commentary is regularly featured in the media. You can find press coverage of Reform's work here.
We are always happy to comment on policy issues relevant to our work. If you would like a quote, an interview, or a background briefing, please email press@reform.uk.
Rose Lasko-Skinner, Researcher at Reform, wrote an op-ed for City AM on public sector procurement and Reform's recent report, 'Please procure responsibly'.
"Government needs to do much better when it comes to “make or buy” decisions – that is, deciding whether a service is more suited to being provided directly by government, or an external provider."
Read the full piece here.
Dr Luke Heselwood said: “The HRA is a step in the right direction but Government policies, such as the Local Housing Allowance freeze, are at cross purposes with MHCLG’s efforts. Eliminating homelessness will require all departments to play a role.”
Reform think tank statement on Birmingham Prison permanently returning to public ownership
Dr Joshua Pritchard said: “With the Ministry of Justice continuing to work with the private sector to deliver prison services, it is crucial that in the future a greater emphasis is placed on quality by improving the commercial skills of civil servants and focusing more on social value, as with HMP Berwyn”
This statement was covered in City AM.
On 28 March 2019, Reform published 'Please procure responsibly: The state of public service commissioning'. The report was covered in a range of publications including: City AM, The MJ, Civil Service World, Public Finance, Facilities Management Journal, Local Gov, A Local Gov feature piece, 24housing, Public Technology, UKAuthority, FE News, Facilities Management Journal (for the second time), Government Business, Diginomica, Supply Management and Simpact.
The report was featured in the House of Commons Fourth Annual Report of the Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts and Local government: alternative models of service delivery briefing paper.
A review of the report was published in the Social Science Research Network.
The report was also featured in a Public.io report, was mentioned by DeNove, was referenced by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, GOlab, Bevan Britain, Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner, Government Opportunities, Room151 and Public Spend Forum.
Claudia Martinez, Research Manager at Reform, wrote an article in the April/May 2019 edition of National Health Executive. In it she writes about how to maximise the value of the NHS estate.
"Unlocking the potential of the NHS estate will still be contingent on trusts, GP practices, and the acute sector identifying opportunities for delivering better quality, utilisation, and efficiency."
Read the full article here.
Eleonora Harwich, Director of Research and Head of Digital and Tech Innovation, was interviewed by Moonshot for Life about healthcare data and Reform's recent report, Making NHS Data work for everyone.
"In order to make the most of healthcare technologies, you need to have that uncomfortable conversation around data exchange"
Read the full interview here.
Commenting on the Royal College of Radiologists report published today, Claudia Martinez, Reform Research Manager, said:
“As well as boosting the number of oncologists, the NHS can up its efforts to stop people getting cancer in the first place. Better collection and use of data will help pinpoint those most at risk of the disease for treatment.”
The think tank has previously found that NHS leaders should collect much more data on cancer patients including survival, treatment, patient experience and medical history.
Reform has previously called for Public Health England’s cancer dashboard to be extended to include new categories of data, such as treatment, medical history and quality of life.
With better analysis, Reform predicts improvements in the prevention of cancer, earlier diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment.
For example, almost 40 per cent of all cancer cases in England are caused by preventable factors such as obesity and smoking. GPs can use insight from the cancer dashboard on lifestyle and genetics to help those at risk make healthier lifestyle choices.
On 28 February 2019, Reform published a report, Proceed with caution: what makes personal budgets work?
The report has received coverage in FE News and Mental Health Today.
Reform is pleased to announce that Charlotte Pickles has been appointed to succeed Andrew Haldenby as its Director with effect from 23 April 2019. Charlie is currently Managing Editor of the comment and current affairs site Unherd.com. She is a former Deputy Director of Reform and was previously an adviser in government. Andrew is leaving at his own request to pursue a number of opportunities in public policy and beyond.
Luke Heselwood, Senior Researcher at Reform, wrote an article for HE at Research Professional about how the UK could learn from Michelle Obama's Better Make Room campaign to improve access to university for disadvantaged students.
Read the full article here.
Commenting on the BMA report, Andrew Haldenby, Director of the independent public services think tank, Reform, said:
“Improving GP surgeries needn’t be too expensive for the taxpayer. Many GPs can make better use of their space, and others can borrow capital funds from the private sector.”
Research by Reform has found that the NHS should identify industry partners/private funding, as well as government borrowing and land sales, to build modern GP surgeries at value for money to the taxpayer.
The think tank has also called for a greater use of technology so that fewer patients need face-to-face consultations, enabling GPs to spend more time with the most serious patients.
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Reform spokesperson please contact William Mills, Reform Events and Communications Coordinator, at 020 3327 1189 or 07596 949837 or william.mills@reform.uk
Notes to editors
Welcoming the Lord Chancellor’s speech today, Andrew Haldenby, Director of the independent public services think tank Reform, said:
“The barrier to the greater use of community sentences is, as much as anything, problems in the probation service. For this reason, the review of probation that he promised today is of great importance.”
In the Department of Health and Social Care's publication, Code of Conduct for data-driven health and care technology, Reform's report, Making NHS data work for everyone, was cited.
Andrew Haldenby, Director of Reform, wrote an article in Conservative Home on why maintaining standards in education is so important.
Read the full article here.
On 18 February 2019, the Rt Hon David Gauke MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, spoke for Reform on the issue redefining punishment and sentencing.
The speech received media coverage in the Evening Standard, Financial Times, Sky News, The Telegraph, The Express, The Independent, The Times, Metro, The Sun, Daily Mail, the BBC, The Guardian and The Week.