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Chris Ham

@chrisham.bsky.social

1.3K followers 350 following 84 posts

Health policy and management, cycling, walking, theatre, reading, and above all family, emeritus prof at University of Birmingham and formerly CEO of The Kings Fund

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Sir Chris Ham, is a health policy academic who started life as a political scientist. He was chief executive of the King's Fund from 2010 to 2018. He was professor of health policy and management at University of Birmingham's health services management centre from 1992 to 2010. He was seconded to the Department of Health where he was Director of the Strategy Unit working with Alan Milburn and John Reid until 2004. .. more

Public Health 41%

Medicine 26%

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · 18d

Tuesday in glorious Warwickshire

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Aug 24

Way out west

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jul 28

Potato harvest in Pembrokeshire today

Reposted by Chris Ham

Professor Judith Smith @profjudithsmith.bsky.social · Jul 27

DHSC has now published its proposals to regulate (or rather bar) #NHS managers. In this @bmj.com paper, @suziebailey.bsky.social @chrisham.bsky.social & I argue that regulation needs to be accompanied by wider changes to professionalise, train & support leaders:

www.bmj.com/content/389/...

NHS management reform: regulation is just the beginning

Regulation of managers now seems inevitable, but must be accompanied by wider changes focused on professionalising and supporting NHS leaders Calls to regulate NHS managers have been made for over 25...

www.bmj.com

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Reposted by Chris Ham

James Plunkett @jamestplunkett.bsky.social · Nov 22

I've been thinking about this a lot recently: how do we build institutions that bring out the best in people? Is that one way to think about the role of government?

The quote is from a recent post exploring evidence and scaling in policy-making. medium.com/@jamestplunk... )

Some text that reads as follows: "The Nobel laureate, Elinor Ostrom, has a useful way of thinking about institutions as rule-based games that get repeated. We move through life in instutions, each trying our best (within constraints like bounded rationality) before repeating, and trying to get better. Ostrom spent decades working to understand institutions, so that we can improve them. Her guiding vision — which feels to me more resonant with every passing day — was that the ultimate goal of government, and of public policy, should be to build institutions ‘that bring out the best in people’."

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Richard Humphries @richardhumphries.bsky.social · Dec 15

“There is more than one way of achieving results” - some really good points here by @chrisham.bsky.social

NHS targets reveal the limits of pressure from the top

Lessons from the Blair era show that focusing on one outcome can distort the rest of the healthcare system

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Richard Humphries @richardhumphries.bsky.social · Jan 9

When this trust declares a critical incident you know things are really bad www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Critical incident declared at South Warwickshire hospitals

Warwick's emergency department has experienced

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Chris Ham

Ben Zaranko @benzaranko.bsky.social · Feb 6

NHS England productivity update

The good: according to NHS estimates, hospital productivity is growing by 2.4% year-on-year

The bad: productivity is still 8% below pre-pandemic levels

The remarkable: spending on agency staff has fallen by 36% year-on-year

www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nh...

NHS England » NHS productivity update

Agenda item: 5 (Public session) Report by: Julian Kelly, Chief Financial Officer / Deputy Chief Executive Officer Paper type: For information

www.england.nhs.uk

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Helen Hassell @helenhassell.bsky.social · Feb 19

I believe personalised care is far from business as usual and should be a key component of the 10 year plan. Working with people and communities and the VCSE where the solutions are, is the only way the NHS should be working but there needs to be resources available

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Feb 13

the NHS 10 year health plan must create the conditions for a shift from providers to patients, people and communities www.bmj.com/content/388/...

The NHS in England needs a fourth shift to transform care and outcomes

Active partnerships with patients, people, and communities should be at the heart of the 10-year NHS plan Wes Streeting has argued that three shifts are required to make the NHS fit for the future: f...

www.bmj.com

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Alf Collins @alfcollins.bsky.social · Feb 22

Interesting…Builds on the work re: ‘patient activation’. We can support people on a journey of activation thru self management programmes, health coaching, peer support, social prescribing- all low cost interventions. These ways of working need to be built into pathways rather than offered ad hoc.

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Richard Humphries @richardhumphries.bsky.social · Mar 26

Actually Knight Frank there is not a ’critical’ need for more care home beds but for more support in people’s own homes & communities.

Just 86 extra UK care home beds created in 2024, data shows

Declining availability highlights challenges for care home sector

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Chris Ham

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · May 16

The Department of Homeland Security is vetting a pitch for a reality television show in which immigrants would compete against one another for U.S. citizenship.

DHS considering reality show in which immigrants compete for citizenship

The competition series was pitched by Rob Worsoff, a Canadian-born writer and producer who was behind A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” and Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker.”

wapo.st

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Alf Collins @alfcollins.bsky.social · May 22

Great blog. Isn’t good commissioning primarily good leadership, Chris?

Reposted by Chris Ham

The BMJ @bmj.com · Jun 16

The NHS must reduce demand for healthcare with spending increases nearing their limits, writes @chrisham.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/389/...

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Reposted by David D. Buck

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 30

Lessons from NHS reforms that this week's 10 year plan should incorporate

www.nhsconfed.org/articles/wha...

What can we learn about implementation from previous NHS reforms?

To deliver the ten-year health plan successfully we must learn the lessons from past reforms.

www.nhsconfed.org

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Reposted by Chris Ham

Professor Judith Smith @profjudithsmith.bsky.social · Jun 23

Newly published @bmj.com paper from @suziebailey.bsky.social @chrisham.bsky.social & me, arguing that it’s time to regulate NHS management, but this will not suffice. Significant investment in training, development & support, & wider professionalisation, are needed. #healthpolicy #healthmanagement

NHS management reform: regulation is just the beginning

www.bmj.com

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 23

regulation of NHS managers and why less central direction, a culture focused on patients and not bullying, and a commitment to increased professionalism enabled by training and a code of conduct are needed @profjudithsmith.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/389/...

www.bmj.com

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 18

Does this prefigure parts of the 10 year NHS plan? ippr-org.files.svdcdn.com/production/D...

ippr-org.files.svdcdn.com

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 17

its time to take prevention seriously and fully engage people in keeping healthy and using services wisely - this must be at the heart of the 10 year NHS plan. The road for increasing spending on a sickness service is running out

The BMJ @bmj.com · Jun 16

The NHS must reduce demand for healthcare with spending increases nearing their limits, writes @chrisham.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/389/...

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 15

Summer flowers Warwickshire

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 11

Wednesday bike ride in Warwickshire

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 5

Hope this can be sustained as ICBs restructure and cut management costs Sam

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · Jun 4

In this fine city today to speak at conference on engaging patients in improving health and care and role of health coaches

Reposted by Chris Ham

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · May 24

Bob Dylan turns 84 today.

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · May 23

Cycling in Girona this week

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · May 22

In part but there’s a skill set and mind set that are also important. NHS leaders and ministers too often default to hierarchy and overlook relationships, trust and the ‘soft’ stuff

Alf Collins @alfcollins.bsky.social · May 22

Great blog. Isn’t good commissioning primarily good leadership, Chris?

Reposted by Chris Ham

NHS Confederation @nhsconfed.org · May 22

Another insightful blog, Chris. Thanks for your contribution to NHS Voices.

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · May 22

Bon Dia from northern Spain

Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · May 21

www.nhsconfed.org/articles/how...

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Chris Ham @chrisham.bsky.social · May 21

My views on challenges for ICBs as commissioners