Ben Barr

@benjaminbarr.bsky.social

1.9K followers 1.9K following 210 posts

Professor in Applied Public Health Research. Head WHO collaborating centre for policy research on the determinants of health equity.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/population-health/staff/benjamin-barr/ . Was once an anthropologist, maybe I still am. .. more

Videos

Public Health 46%

Medicine 29%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 14h

Evaluating the impact of a structured medication optimisation review on prescribing patterns and bleeding risk among patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs): a difference-in-differences study. bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/14/4...

Objective To evaluate the safety of implementing structured medication optimisation reviews (SMORs) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) prescribed direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). SMORs aime...

bmjopenquality.bmj.com

Reposted by Simon Roux, Alistair Munro, Ben Barr , and 9 more Simon Roux, Alistair Munro, Ben Barr, Philip N. Cohen, Chris Hanretty, Rebecca Sear, Markus Jäntti, Kris Inwood, Jonathan Hopkin, Xander Koolman, Markus Wagner, Patrick Präg

Sasha Gusev @sashagusevposts.bsky.social · 3d

I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵

The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered

Not with a bang but with a whimper

theinfinitesimal.substack.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Cas Mudde, Ben H. Ansell , and 10 more Jonathan Portes, Cas Mudde, Ben H. Ansell, John Drury, Will Jennings, Mel Bartley, James M. Bullock, Ben Barr, Elizabeth Stokoe, Jonathan Hopkin, Michael H. Whitworth, Stephen Jones, Stuart White

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 4d

Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?

White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%

Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%

yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 4d

How long a death is delayed is what is important.

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 4d

The reporting of this figure from the enquiry seems ambiguous. Most saying 23000 deaths would have been prevented by earlier first lockdown. Some saying 23000 deaths would have been prevented *in the first wave* (potentially just postponed to subsequent waves). These are very different.

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Nando Sigona, Tariq Modood , and 3 more Jonathan Portes, Nando Sigona, Tariq Modood, Steve Peers, Ben Barr, Ben Rosamond

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 4d

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made more explicit her argument that when ethnic minorities face racism, "we have no choice but to ask: what is the cause of our division"

Her answer is the level of net migration, 2019-23 causes racism. (She on Monday said it was caused by the scale of asylum)

Reposted by Ben Barr

Health Equity North @healthequitynorth.bsky.social · 5d

The report, was produced by HEN academics from @newcastleuni.bsky.social, @manchester.ac.uk @lancasteruni.bsky.social & @teessideuni.bsky.social

Read the full report: www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/poor-health-...

8/9

Poor health in the North costing the UK billions in lost productivity - Health Equity North

Closing the health gap between the North and the rest of England could put an extra £18.4 billion into the economy per year, according to new research. A report released today (November 20, 2025) by H...

www.healthequitynorth.co.uk

Reposted by Ben Barr

BlueFloss @bluefloss.bsky.social · 6d

A video is going viral of a #Blackmother in #Texas in labor receiving triage questions instead of being cared for. She delivered 12 minutes later.
This isn’t an isolated mistake. It’s part of a long history of Black women’s pain being dismissed in #medicine
Attribution: @joelbervell
#Healthcare

Reposted by Marc Lynch, Ben Barr, Bessma Momani

Justin Salhani @justinsalhani.bsky.social · 6d

Israel just hit the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, Ain al Hilweh, with missiles.

It’s a dense camp with the presence of many Palestinian factions but also many civilians.

Reposted by Ben Barr

Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 7d

You can read more about the revised estimates here: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

Improving long-term international migration statistics, updating our methods and estimates - Office for National Statistics

Headline findings and revised estimates from updated data and new methods to estimate long-term international migration of British and EU+ nationals. These are official statistics in development.

www.ons.gov.uk

Reposted by Ben Barr

Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 7d

Does this mean more Brits are leaving the UK now than before the pandemic?

In short, we don't know. That's because British migration estimates using the new method only go back to 2021, and aren't comparable with pre-pandemic estimates based on the old method.

Reposted by Ben Barr

Migration Observatory @migobs.bsky.social · 7d

Revised estimates from the ONS suggest that net migration reached a peak of 944,000 in 2023 (rather than 906,000) and fell faster in 2024, to 345,000 (not 431,000).

Here's all you need to know, in three posts...

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 7d

What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?

Reposted by Ben Barr

David Oliver @mancunianmedic.bsky.social · 7d

shows how distorted the narratives and perceptions are

Reposted by Ben Barr

我不喜欢万税爷 @hikoukihikouki9.bsky.social · 9d

I like how they think that if we abolish white collar labor with AI and everyone starts working with their hands, it’s gonna be hammering shit at the masculinity factory and not wiping butt in hospitals, especially if immigration becomes more restrictive

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 10d

Not sure where you are based - but this might just be a Canadian / North American thing. Every year when visiting family in Canada I have to reacquaint myself with a can opener (no longer needed for most cans in Europe)

Reposted by Albert Weale, Ben Barr, Tim Leunig

Chris Giles @chrisgiles.ft.com · 10d

Want some good news about the UK economy for once...levels of GDP (and forecasts) keep getting revised up...

Reposted by David D. Buck

Ben Barr @benjaminbarr.bsky.social · 12d

The Health, Poverty and Employment Effects of Cutting Income Replacement Benefits for the Disabled: A Difference -in-Difference Analysis of the 2016 Welfare Reforms. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

The Health, Poverty and Employment Effects of Cutting Income Replacement Benefits for the Disabled: A Difference -in-Difference Analysis of the 2016 Welfare Reforms

Background: Health-related economic inactivity in England has risen, with more working-age adults claiming disability benefits. The

papers.ssrn.com

Reposted by Ben Barr, Smith

Ida B Wells' Winchester Rifle @dytsras.bsky.social · 13d

Do yall remember this?

In 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama gave each other a fist bump on the campaign trail.

Do you remember the controversy?

(Why would there be controversy? everyone gives fist bumps!!)

FOX News referred to it as a "terrorist fist bump."

(short 🧵)

2008 photo of Michelle and Barack Obama giving each other a fist bump on the campaign trail

2008 Cartoon by the New Yorker depicting "extremist" Michelle Obama and "Islamic militant" Barack Obama giving each other a "terrorist fist bump."

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Simon Hix, Stephen P. Jenkins , and 10 more Diane Coyle, Simon Hix, Stephen P. Jenkins, Michael A. Clemens, Ben Barr, Richard Shaw, Max Nathan, Stephen Cushion, Ben Crum, Rory O’Connell, Dana R. Fisher, Nicolai von Ondarza, Pepper D. Culpepper

John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 15d

Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:

One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.

Reposted by Ben Barr

Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 17d

Unlike politics, there’s no such thing as public health centrism. It’s evidence-based radicalism. It’s all about change towards health justice and equity, not tinkering around the edges trying to keep everyone happy. Such notions, my friends, are rather radical and there’s no shame in that.

Reposted by Ben Barr

European Centre for Environment & Human Health @ecehh.org · 19d

How can natural infrastructure reduce health inequalities?

Prof Ben Wheeler is exploring:

"Geographical health inequalities in the UK are stark...the gap in healthy life expectancy across local authorities in England is around 20 years."

www.ecehh.org/news/nature-health-inequalities-webinar/

Webinar report on planning, health inequalities, and nature | ECEHH

Over 350 participants recently joined us for a webinar exploring links between nature and health inequalities.

www.ecehh.org

Reposted by Ben Barr, Julia Lynch, David D. Buck

Ally Brown @allybrown.bsky.social · 20d

The health inequalities agenda is "tired and risks having run out of road" - not my words, the words of a senior health policymaker in the Scottish Government. But other SG policymakers told me health inequalities were a "huge priority" - so what's going on? A thread... 1/

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Michael S. Rosenberg, John R. Hutchinson , and 3 more Anna O. Law, Michael S. Rosenberg, John R. Hutchinson, Ben Barr, Dustin Mulvaney, Christine Kooi

Cristian Vlad @cristianvlad.bsky.social · 20d

Wonder why this scene looks so familiar...
#WildlifeWednesday 🐦🐕

Reposted by Ben Barr, Daniel Kuehn

Anna Gifty @itsafronomics.bsky.social · 22d

Your life is worse off because too many white people hate Black people.

Reposted by Ben Barr

Scott L Greer @scottlgreer.bsky.social · 24d

Academics doom but honestly: I’m paid to speak with smart people of all ages, do research that might improve the world, and work with policy makers, while having a high level of autonomy so I waste less time. I could be paid more to have a less interesting, useful, challenging job. But… no.

Reposted by Ben Barr, Simon Otjes, Richard Waite , and 2 more Ben Barr, Simon Otjes, Richard Waite, Jacob Montgomery, Damian Trilling

Thomas @thomasfuchs.at · 24d

Meme showing six logical operators illustrated with jack-o'-lantern images.

trick OR treat
trick AND treat
trick XOR treat
trick NOR treat
trick NAND treat
trick XNOR treat

Reposted by Ben Barr

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 25d

Index of Multiple Deprivation shows highly deprived areas are concentrated in the North of England
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Highly deprived neighbourhoods concentrated in the north of England
Proportion of neighbourhoods in each English local authority that are highly deprived
0% 0 0-10% 010-20% 020-30% •>30%
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Note: Highly deprived neighbourhoods are in the most deprived 10% across England

North-south divide on deprivation levels
Proportion of neighbourhoods in each English region that are highly deprived
North East
North West
Yorkshire and The Humber
West Midlands
East Midlands
London
South West
East of England
South East
21.5%
20.2%
18.5%
16%
8.2%
4%
3.9%
3.9%
3.3%
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
BBC

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Ben Barr, Michael H. Whitworth , and 2 more Andrew Scott, Ben Barr, Michael H. Whitworth, Jae-Young Son, David Spurrett

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 25d

I can answer this. I interviewed Peterson's tailor a few years ago, although the interview was never published because I fell behind on work. Here is the story of this suit. 🧵

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 25d

What is happening with this outfit?

Reposted by Ben Barr, Jae-Young Son, David Spurrett

Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 25d

What is happening with this outfit?

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