The Week, 30 November 2018
Reformer of the week
The National Audit Office for saying that value for money in the public sector is not only about short-term spending control and silo decision making, it is about integrated medium-and-short-term planning activity.
Quote of the week
“Without these changes, government will continue to be trapped in a cycle of short-termism, over-optimism and silo decision-making, which creates real risks to value for money” – The National Audit Office on Monday.
Quote of the week
“The interconnecting argument [between the NHS and social care] has come a long way in the last three-five years, what hasn’t moved is a settled national consensus at a durable future funding answer for social care services” – Simon Stevens on Wednesday.
Good week for
Higher education standards
Universities are to hold a sector-wide inquiry into the sharp rise in firsts and upper second-class degrees.
Bad week for
Patient safety
An investigation revealed that some medical devices that reach the market have not been adequately tested due to regulatory issues and a lack of transparency around evidence.
Reform’s week
Luke Heselwood, Researcher at Reform published a new report on increasing the participation of disadvantaged students at elite universities. The report was featured in The Times, The Guardian, The Times Education Supplement and FE News.
Blogs were published on improving access for disadvantaged students by Luke Heselwood, Emilie Sundorph, Policy Officer at Teach First and Sarah Stevens, Head of Policy at Russell Group.
Claudia Martinez, Research Manager at Reform, commented on Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ report by saying that there needs to be renewed focus on prevention in mental health.
Eleonora Harwich, Research Director at Reform was quoted in an article on police facial recognition.