"The CDC shooting serves as a tragic reminder that political polarisation has become a public health emergency."

@lucindahiam.bsky.social writes the first piece of her year in the US, discussing political polarisation as an overlooked determinant of health
www.bmj.com/content/390/...

🚨 PhD Opportunity

🇬🇧 Are migrants in the UK living longer lives but in worse health?

Work with the brilliant @mjwdemography.bsky.social exploring the immigrant morbidity–mortality paradox

🔗 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

📅 Deadline: 1 August

@para-mor-ukri.bsky.social

💡 AI has real potential. But without confronting:
🔹 Digital divides
🔹 Systemic bias
🔹 Social determinants of health and impacts of austerity

…it risks entrenching the very inequalities it’s meant to reduce.

@rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social
(5/5)

3️⃣ Tech alone can improve health.
It can’t.

AI-enabled tools that focus on individual behaviour change ignore structural drivers of poor health — like poverty, housing, and food insecurity, and the devastating impacts of austerity.

www.bmj.com/content/385/...

(4/5)

2️⃣ Algorithms are neutral.
They’re not.

AI is only as fair as the data it’s trained on — and systemic bias is baked into much of that data.

Instead of addressing discrimination, AI can reinforce it.

(3/5)

1️⃣ Everyone's online.
They’re not.

1.6 million people in the UK remain offline limiting access to care, digital services, and health tools.

Digital exclusion disproportionately affects many of those already facing the greatest health challenges.

(2/5)

⚖️ Can a digital NHS be equitable?

In our @bmj.com editorial @jessrmorley.bsky.social @eleanorbarry.bsky.social & I argue that while AI in healthcare promises transformation, it rests on three flawed assumptions that risk worsening inequalities 👇

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

(1/5)

The chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves has outlined plans to cut several billion from the UK's welfare budget.

Cuts to disability benefits will worsen health and the economy
www.bmj.com/content/388/...

Led by @gerrymccartney1.bsky.social with @profkatsmith.bsky.social and David Walsh, and contributions from David Taylor-Robinson, @profbambra.bsky.social @dannydorling.bsky.social @benjaminbarr.bsky.social @martinmckee.bsky.social

@thegcph.bsky.social @oxfordgeography.bsky.social

Our @bmj.com editorial ahead of the #SpringStatement

❌ There’s no evidence that cutting social security boosts economic activity—it’s neither "moral" nor effective.
✅ Gains come from investing in health.
💡 Solving the austerity-fuelled health crisis needs political will & strong public services.

Health is a key driver for economic growth.

It baffles me that the UK government are ignoring the advice of public health experts & going down the track of further austerity.

A @bmj.com editorial by @lucindahiam.bsky.social, @gerrymccartney1.bsky.social & David Walsh.

www.bmj.com/content/388/...

✅ Advocate for a reversal of austerity policies to restore public services & welfare
✅ Communicate the role of health as a key economic driver and the impact of economic policy on health
✅ Expose false narratives & push for evidence-based policy

Without action, the UK’s health crisis will deepen.

📢 Austerity is a public health emergency

Cuts to welfare & public services have worsened health, driving rising mid-life mortality & health inequalities.

Yet, more cuts are coming.

With @gerrymccartney1.bsky.social & David Walsh in @bmj.com we call for the health community to speak out 1/2

Honoured to be elected to Honorary Membership of the Faculty of Public Health @fphuk.bsky.social @profkevinfenton.bsky.social
Thank you @martinmckee.bsky.social & @robaldridge.bsky.social for the support, & the FPH board for the award.
Looking forward to contributing further to public health.

1/9 🧵Pleased to have played a small part in this new @thelancetph.bsky.social paper showing just how bad UK life expectancy has been doing since 2010 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Suicide rates have long been recognised as an indicator of how societies are faring . Rates in E&W now at highest for 20 years. But as @lucindahiam.bsky.social @dannydorling.bsky.social & I show, the overall figures conceal stark regional inequalities

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Is the UK public ready for radical change to improve health? A series of citizens assemblies on priorities for action beyond the NHS on health could help provide an answer.

With @rebeccamckee.bsky.social & Bob Klaber in @bmj.com

www.bmj.com/content/386/...

📣New from me, @lucindahiam.bsky.social and Bob Klaber in the BMJ on how citizens' assemblies can help provide a mandate for much needed bold government action on health

I've got some free access copies, so shout if you'd like one!

👇
www.bmj.com/content/386/...