David Buck
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davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck
@davidjbuck.bsky.social
3K followers 300 following 220 posts

Senior fellow in public health and health inequalities at The King's Fund (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/). Bit of a magpie, don't necessarily agree with those i (re)share. Also over at twitter @davidjbuck.

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Political science 46%
Sociology 39%
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davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
1/6. Really welcome Sir Charlie Mayfield's review on #work and #health today in response to this existential reality bbc.co.uk/news/article.... Review link and quick thoughts follow.
Britain sliding 'into economic crisis' over £85bn sickness bill, ex-John Lewis boss warns
The number of people who are out of work for health reasons has grown by 800,000 since 2019.
bbc.co.uk

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 4d
"The more government does, the more the public want it to do", no need to fear nanny state arguments. Do the lessons from tobacco control translate to other commercial determinants of health? #ADPHConf25 #CDOH.

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 4d
Great to be at
@adphuk.bsky.social ann conference today, and to be listening to Lord Filkin on what needs to happen now... #ADPHConf25

Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan , and 7 more

jamesrball.com
James Ball @jamesrball.com · 5d
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
No prizes for guessing who grok chose sorry

Reposted by Luke Munford

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 6d
ICYMI: A #mustread on #socialprescribing. First - at-scale - quant evaluation of effect in general practice i've seen. Small individual impacts, scaling significantly at population level. Congrats to @lukemunford.bsky.social and colleagues bjgp.org/content/earl...
Impact of the rollout of the national social prescribing link worker programme on population outcomes: evidence from a repeated cross-sectional survey
Background Social prescribing link workers have been rolled out nationally through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. Link workers connect people to advice and support to address the non-medic...
bjgp.org

Reposted by Chris Hanretty, David D. Buck

duncanweldon.bsky.social
Duncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 11d
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.

Reposted by David D. Buck

victimofmaths.bsky.social
Colin Angus @victimofmaths.bsky.social · 12d
A few thoughts on alcohol duty ahead of the budget (and an excuse to update some old graphs).

These two show the important of accounting for inflation - in cash terms alcohol duty rates are higher than ever before, but in real terms they are at historically low levels.
A line chart showing cash-terms (i.e. unadjusted for inflation) alcohol duty rates by type of alcohol since 1979. These have increased steadily over time, particularly between 2008-2013 under the 'duty escalator', except for under the previous coalition/Conservative government when they fell or remained at the same levels for almost a decade. The same graph, but after adjusting for inflation. This tells a very different story with the lines all trending down over time, except for the duty escalator period, when they rose briefly. Overall alcohol duty rates are much lower now in real terms than they have been at almost any point in the previous 40-odd years.

Reposted by David D. Buck

clesthinkdo.bsky.social
The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) @clesthinkdo.bsky.social · 12d
🏗️🚍 When housing & transport are unaffordable, good health is impossible

📖 This new essay from CLES & @thekingsfund.bsky.social shows how mayors & strategic authorities can tackle unaffordability and put people first through interventions like municipal ownership 👇

cles.org.uk/publications...

Reposted by David D. Buck

benjaminbarr.bsky.social
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
<p><b><span>Background: </span></b><span>Health-related economic inactivity in England has risen, with more working-age adults claiming disability benefits. The
papers.ssrn.com

Reposted by David D. Buck

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 13d
>>>> @adphuk.bsky.social on mis- and dis-information and health www.adph.org.uk/2025/10/a-st...
A strategic look at mis and disinformation - ADPH
www.adph.org.uk

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 14d
Some will remember this - the ModAg! It's all in that box.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Steve Peers, John L. Cotter , and 1 more

rolandmcs.bsky.social
Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 19d
He's going to 'make the case for markets' despite screwing up Britain's place in a very large one, and putting up trade barriers.

Reposted by Ruairidh Milne, David D. Buck

actuarybyday.bsky.social
Stuart McDonald @actuarybyday.bsky.social · 19d
Flu is spiking up unusually early this year. The chart below shows hospital admissions, compared to six recent flu seasons.

Other indicators like flu test positivity paint the same picture.

From today's @ukhsa.bsky.social surveillance update:
www.gov.uk/government/s...

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 19d
Good thread, lots of competing (with different advocates and 'fashions') and shifting meanings of health inequalities (as other concepts such as population health), v evident in English policy and debate too over time.
allybrown.bsky.social 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 David D. Buck

statsgeekclare.bsky.social
Clare Griffiths @statsgeekclare.bsky.social · 20d
Long covid prevalence is available in OHID's Fingertips tool, am not sure this data is much known about! fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/gene...
National General Practice Profiles - Data | Fingertips | Department of Health and Social Care
Data on patient demographics, satisfaction with GP services, prevalence of common conditions and general practice achievement results.
fingertips.phe.org.uk

Reposted by David D. Buck

healthfoundation.bsky.social
The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 20d
🎧 Speaking to Emma Vardy on Radio 5 Live, @davefinch.bsky.social​ says, with 1 in 5 working-age people reporting a work-limiting health condition, it is vital that government and employers now act on the Mayfield review's recommendations.

Listen from 2.11 ⬇️
Naga Munchetty - With Emma Vardy - BBC Sounds
Emma Vardy features news, experiences, and big name interviews from around the UK.
bbc.in

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

allybrown.bsky.social
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/

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
Good to be in Leeds today with colleagues old and new, on #devolition and #health. So much potential - tx great panel made it easy to chair on #partnership between ICS/strategic authorities and local authorities for #health. Tx @healthfoundation.bsky.social for support.

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
6/6. We need a coherent health mission form government, urgently and it needs to do these things ⬇️https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/blogs/prevention-revolution-another-missed-opportunity

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
5/6. 4️⃣The challenge is whether it is big enough & urgent enough to turn the tide of ill-health, this needs to be part of a much bigger cohernt health mission that the government has promised but not delivered, it must do so inc fully committing to Sir Charlie’s recommendations.

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
4/6. 3️⃣The prescription for change: a vanguard programme with employers building over time, better evidence and data to drive evaluation and outcomes, and rewiring incentives to improve coordination and learning from other countries who perform far better than we do is right.

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
3/6. My view...
1️⃣It faces head on the challenge that too many people are not in ood work, which brings dignity, purpose and wellbeing as well as economic security.
2️⃣This is true esp for those with disabilities, mental health issues & older people with chronic conditions

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20d
2/6. Review here gov.uk/government/n... Top level recommendations...

Reposted by David D. Buck

healthfoundation.bsky.social
The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 20d
Welcoming the final report from Sir Charlie Mayfield’s Keep Britain Working Review, @davefinch.bsky.social​ says the only sustainable way to meet the growing workforce health challenge and improve lives is to keep people healthy and in work from the outset.

Read more ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4nz5EH1
'Sir Charlie Mayfield has delivered a landmark report that sets out a fresh approach for addressing the UK’s growing workforce health challenge. Now it needs government and employers to get behind it.' David Finch, Assistant Director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 25d
2/2. ...it's up for grabs on whether it will be. The concept of #neighbourhoodhealth is still being defined and there are several models in play, see this excellent @thekingsfund.bsky.social explainer by Leila Morris @annacharleskf.bsky.social @beccya.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
What Is Neighbourhood Health? | The King's Fund
The government has put a 'neighbourhood health service' at the heart of its vision for the NHS – but what does that actually mean for staff and patients? And how might it be implemented in different c...
www.kingsfund.org.uk

Reposted by Mel Bartley

davidjbuck.bsky.social
David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 25d
1/2. Really interesting work from @impurbanhealth.bsky.social on #financial #health, #GPs, #socialprescribing etc. To add to previous examples. This wider concept of helth and wellbeing is what #neighbourhoodhealth service should be about IMHO. But... urbanhealth.org.uk/insights/rep...
Financial Shield project: Supporting health by tackling financial stress
Supporting working-age people with long-term health conditions and financial difficulties.
urbanhealth.org.uk

Reposted by David D. Buck

thekingsfund.bsky.social
The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 26d
'The depth of admin failures suggest that fixing admin is a highly complex area that requires resources, skill, leadership and walking in the shoes of patients and carers'

Julia Cream looks at two areas where they're trying to do admin differently. https://bit.ly/47BI6vq
Who Picks Up The Phone? Different Approaches To NHS Admin | The King's Fund
Improving NHS admin isn’t easy – but some solutions are surprisingly simple. Julia Cream looks at two real life examples of admin done differently.
bit.ly

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell , and 20 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 26d
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Dirk Pilat, Urška Demšar , and 1 more

sarahoconnorft.ft.com
Sarah O'Connor @sarahoconnorft.ft.com · 26d
2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...