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.
Rachel Cunliffe, City AM Comment Editor, quoted Reform research in a piece in favour of government outsourcing: “… what matters is how much the government saves from not doing everything itself. That’s hard to measure overall, with so many varied contracts, but as an example of what’s possible, a report from the think tank Reform shows that the Department of Work and Pensions was able to cut its web-hosting costs by 90 per cent by using a new digital procurement system to get the best-value deal.”
The Reform research is available here.
You can read the article here.
Alexander Hitchcock, Research Manager at Reform, wrote an opinion piece for City A.M arguing that failings in policy have put “undue pressure” on outsourcing companies.
The Times Higher Education wrote an article following our panel event on Diversifying the elite: the responsibility of universities. The article highlights comments by the panel, including Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, who commented on the suitability of lowering entry grades for poorer pupils.
You can read the article here
Alexander Hitchcock, Senior Researcher at Reform, appeared on The Sunday Politics Show Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to discuss the role of private companies in delivering public services. He argued that if “business nous” were applied to the NHS, it could help it to achieve the savings required by 2020, and means more money can be put into frontline care.
Watch the full episode here (Alexander appeared at 50 minutes, 30 seconds).
Maisie Borrows, Researcher at Reform, wrote an article in Health Service Journal on how private investment can transform the primary care estate. It can work as an option to fund an upgrade of primary care estate can deliver value for money for the taxpayer and significantly improve patient outcomes.
Read the full article here.
Alexander Hitchcock, Research Manager at Reform, wrote an article in City AM exploring the recent debate on how public services are funded and delivered, in light of Carillion’s collapse.
“Policymakers should recognise that business incentives are part of public services. Combining a public sector “ethos” with business nous can help deliver the best services for the lowest cost. All organisations need to be set up to thrive. If profit-making improves outcomes, it should not be snubbed no matter where politicians stand on the political divide.”
Read the full article here.
Education Technology published an article about a roundtable recently hosted by Instructure which discussed how education technology can best be implemented in schools. Emilie Sundorph, Researcher at Reform, is quoted in the article arguing that although it may be an investment upfront, technology has the potential to improve education and save schools money in the long.
“There is still a feeling that edtech is an extra. We need to show how edtech can contribute to closing the attainment gap.”
You can read the article here
Alex Hitchcock, Research Manager at Reform, appeared on Sky News alongside Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, to discuss the future GP workforce. Alex argued that a new model of general practice, better at using technology and the wider workforce, is needed to meet patient demands.
Alexander Hitchcock, Research Manager at Reform, authored a piece arguing against the idea that the collapse of the firm Carillion should mean an end to outsourcing. The piece concluded, “Ministers should put business nous before ideology.”
Please read the piece here.
Alexander Hitchcock, Research Manager at Reform, appeared on BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show at 10.30am to discuss the importance of a new model of care over more funding for the NHS. He appeared alongside Professor Clare Gerada, GP Partner, the Hurley Group, and Stephen Dorrell, Chair of NHS Confederation. You can watch the interview from 10.41.
Alexander Hitchcock, Researcher Manager at Reform, appeared on BBC Wiltshire at 0915 to discuss the benefits of public-private partnerships following the news that Carillion went into liquidation.
You can listen to his interview on the Marie Lennon show from 0.23
Andrew Haldenby, Director at Reform, appeared on the programme to support the NHS’ efforts to get greater value for money from its property estate.
See the appearance here, at 48 minutes 28 seconds.
NHS Digital issued a response from Professor Daniel Ray, Director of Data, after the publication of Reform‘s report, Thinking on its own: AI in the NHS. In it, he highlights the importance of getting data right and overcoming the challenges of understanding the decisions AI algorithms make when using data.
Read the full response here.
Maisie Borrows, Researcher at Reform, appeared on Sky News to discuss NHS funding. She argued that a new structure and model of care is needed with a long-term strategy needed, with a particular focus on moving care away from the acute sector.