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David Buck

@davidjbuck.bsky.social
3.1K followers 311 following 299 posts

Senior fellow in public health and health inequalities at The King's Fund (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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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Hang on. Is that an average of 20 people per constituency polled...?
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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 16/09/2026
How fast is the world building up solar power? The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organization with 172 countries and the European Union.
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Healthwatch @healthwatch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Around 12% of UK households are both officially in poverty and paying income tax. UK is now a country that actually taxes its poor ifs.org.uk/articles/unf...
ifs.org.uk
Unfreezing the personal allowance | Institute for Fiscal Studies
What would unfreezing the personal allowance mean for taxpayers and how much would it cost?
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Glad to be welcoming people to our #prevention conference @thekingsfund.bsky.social today. A good day to share our #explainer on #vaccines - what they are, how they work, how we are doing as a nation, what's happening ahead. Tx to Emma Wills, and wider team. www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Vaccines In England Explained | The King's Fund
An explainer on vaccines in England, covering vaccine safety, immunisation programmes, uptake rates, inequalities and public health outcomes.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
It's getting cooler, but #fuelpoverty is always with us. Great to hear @thekingsfund.bsky.social from Danielle Butler of @nea.org.uk on the work they do (inc with the #NHS) on supporting people's wellbeing through connecting #health & fuel poverty alleviation. www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Why Warm Homes Should Be Part of the Health System’s Prevention Toolkit | The King's Fund
Dr Danielle Butler, Head of Development at National Energy Action, explores the role of warm homes in supporting health and reducing demand on services.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Special sauce slathered all over the bread. What's been going on in Greater Manchester? @ruthrobbo.bsky.social @thekingsfund.bsky.social tells us www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
24-hour prevention people: how is Greater Manchester putting prevention into practice?
How can communities and public services work together to help people to stay healthy? Ruth Robertson looks at Greater Manchester's Live Well approach – and what makes it distinctive.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
There's lots of great blog content on @thekingsfund.bsky.social site at the moment, including this. Looking across the pond is hard to do, but it has lessons for us on #publichealth #policy and it's #communication www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
The uncomfortable ‘Make America Healthy Again’ breakthrough
Despite the damage caused by MAHA, its ability to get Americans talking about prevention and chronic disease offers valuable lessons.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
#Nurse #prescribing in #socialcare. What's going on? Is it going on? From colleague Loreen Chikwira @thekingsfund.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Nurse Prescribing in Adult Social Care: Making Nurse Prescribing Work for All | The King's Fund
Loreen Chikwira explores the benefits and barriers to effective nurse prescribing in adult social care.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
What's been going on with NHS spending? Is it learning to live within it's means? Good and clear from @theifs.bsky.social ifs.org.uk/articles/era...
ifs.org.uk
Is the era of annual NHS top-ups over? | Institute for Fiscal Studies
For the first time in over a decade, the NHS broadly stuck to its planned 2025-26 budget – but partly because hospital activity grew more slowly.
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Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
100%. Not the experience in Greater Manchester…
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Latest for @thekingsfund.bsky.social > what can #England learn from #Wales on #publichealth #policy? Quite a bit, especially on approach, and with a new government, its' a time to stay curious. But as ever, not all is rosy either side of Offa's Dyke www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
What Can England Learn From Public Health Policy in Wales? | The King's Fund
Wales is often seen internationally as progressive on public health. David Buck explores what sits behind that reputation and what England can learn from it.
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Health Equals @handle.invalid · 19/08/2026
Your postcode shouldn't determine your shelf life. But in the UK, it does. Depending on where you live, your life could be cut short by up to 18 years. That's not because of bad luck or individual choices alone. 🧵
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Will the new prime minister and secretary of state remember their own #history on #healthinequalities #policy? and what will happen if they do? A post on linked in www.linkedin.com/pulse/prime-...
linkedin.com
Will the prime minister and secretary of stare remember their own history on health inequalities policy? If so, how will they act on them?
Remarkably, the former Secretary of State for health and the former public health minister are now Prime Minister and Secretary of State for health respectively. They say a week is a long-time in poli...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Where are the analysts? A short post on linked in www.linkedin.com/pulse/wheres...
linkedin.com
Where's the plan for the analysts?
Today’s piece in the Health Service Journal on how strategic commissioning is going argues that a key problem is a lack of analytical capability The Integrator: The strategic commissioning skills gap ...
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David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Good interview with Miatta Fahnbulleh in The Times. This section resonated with me because officials are, in contrast to the popular view of the civil service, far too eager to implement ministerial ideas without thinking through the consequences. Also helps if officials know about their area.
"willing to take a risi

For Fahnbulleh the experience was also seminal - giving her an insight that many ministers do not have of what it is like to serve on the other side of the fence.

She said she became well aware of the tendency of officials to take what their minister says literally and, after being appointed to the cabinet, was keen to make clear to her staff that she wanted to be challenged.

“The first time I came into the department as a secretary of state, I said, speak truth to power. Challenge, have ideas.

"There should be nothing that you feel you can't say. It is right for the service to say, 'well, yes, but this is the consequence of that'. Or 'have you thought about this? Or 'this is why we think it's a terrible idea'. You need to have that in order to effect change, in my view."
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Pete Scarborough @petescarbs.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I'm sorry but this is absolutely hilarious. Remember that this technology is going to take all of your jobs
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Rewiring the State - all bets on devolution. Whiter #publichealth & #prevention? On 1 hand = vague statement re 'devolution of preventive services' on other = public health grant kaput. Transition will be critical, and needs to done with a lot of thought & right sequencing www.gov.uk/government/p...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
BBC News - Andy Burnham to give regional mayors share of income tax www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Andy Burnham to give regional mayors share of income tax
The prime minister says the move will give power to "every postcode" but critics say the plans lack detail.
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Ben Zaranko @benzaranko.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
This is an amazing chart - but it shows *relative* inequality. Because wealth has grown from 3.5 to 7 times annual GDP since 1991, the *absolute* wealth gaps are wider, and stagnant wages mean it's harder to earn your way up the ladder. So beneath the surface, still cause for concern.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Bang on.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Sounds interesting. But given it's a health plan, be good to hear from someone not in the NHS, given it doesn't have a monopoly on health.
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Centre for Economic Performance @cep-lse.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Manchesterism shows the potential for place-based policy making - but such a transformation takes time. As Andy Burnham becomes PM, Aadya Bahl looks what can, and cannot, be applied elsewhere. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/c…
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Can Manchesterism really be a blueprint for national growth? | LSE British Politics
Much of the success of Andy Burnham's Manchesterism depended on local conditions of Greater Manchester. Can it be replicated nationally?
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The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, responds to Yvette Cooper's appointment as new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. 👉https://bit.ly/4bBxK1f
kingsfund.org.uk
The King's Fund responds to Yvette Cooper's appointment as new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund responds to new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham’s, recent comments on social care and the appointment of Yvette Cooper to Secretary of State for Health...
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Colin Angus @victimofmaths.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
This is such a weird non-story. The regulations relate specifically to the term 'alcohol-free', which should only be applied to drinks below 0.05% ABV. But there is no barrier to making drinks at 0.5% - e.g. Lucky Saint is 0.5% and their sales seem to be fine. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
UK’s alcohol-free beer boom threatened by regulations, trade body warns
BBPA wants content definition for beer to be considered non-alcoholic to be changed from 0.05% to 0.5%
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Great piece from Siva Anandaciva for @thekingsfund.bsky.social what might come from an Andy Burnham government, wide-ranging, and shows many choices and headaches to trade-off. It's not going to be easy... healthcareleadernews.com/views/a-burn...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Can't believe BBC is leading the news with reams of pointless pieces on changing the England world cup kick off time. Gimme strength.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Arrghh. @serailway.bsky.social. That's now almost 3hrs to travel 37 miles. Via two tubes, three trains and now a missing driver, in touching distance. You make my life too hard.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
As strategic authorities gain control, can we expect to see better tailored health services that improve people's lives? @mubj.bsky.social​, from the West Midlands Combined Authority, and Katherine Merrifield explore potential impacts of devolution on UK health outcomes ⬇️ bit.ly/4o6VRtL
The image shows a purple graphic featuring text that says 'the decline in healthy life expectancy is not inevitable. But reversing it will require action well beyond health care, using the levers that sit at regional and local levels.'
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Local Government Association (LGA) @local.gov.uk · 14/05/2026
Following the local elections held on Thursday 7 May 2026, the LGA’s political proportionality has now been calculated and independently verified: Full details available on our website: orlo.uk/tSjIY
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Just received this in my inbox - interesting both for what it says and that the Mayor's office (Burnham's office) saw the need to say it. Burnham can *run* for Westminster and remain Mayor while doing it, but if he wins he has to immediately resign. That's good for Burnham & Lab prospects imho 1/2
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Politics UK @politicsuk.com · 14/05/2026
🚨 BREAKING: Keir Starmer has appointed James Murray as the new Health Secretary
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
A tour de force (of a blog) - Wes Streeting has left the building. What did he achieve? Taking the long view. Siva Anandiciva @thekingsfund.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Wes Streeting Has Gone | The King's Fund
Wes Streeting has moved on. What did he achieve after nearly two years in the job, and what might his departure mean for the NHS and adult social care?
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Ryan Swift @ryanswift93.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
The new political map of Greater Manchester. Unsurprising that we’ve seen big shifts. Polling for @ipprnorth.bsky.social on the eve of the election showed trust in both local and national politicians and institutions was a rock bottom levels across GM (except interestingly for the mayor).
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The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
📢 The UK’s health is in trouble, and it’s holding us back. Join us in person on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at ‘From evidence to impact: making prevention stick’ to explore how to move the dial on prevention. Book your early bird ticket now: bit.ly/4g4vfWg
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NBER @nber.org · 10/05/2026
When the value of an activity comes from peer participation, bans only work if enough peers comply. Research suggests this isn't happening with the new Australian social media ban, from Bursztyn, Duckworth, Jiménez-Durán, Leonard, Milojević, Roth, and Sunstein www.nber.org/papers/w35162
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Ryan Swift @ryanswift93.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
It’ll be interesting to see how the new political makeup of councils alters the dynamics in MCAs. Here in W Yorks we’ll be going from 4 Labour run councils and 1 noc working with a Labour metro mayor, to 2 Reform run councils (Calderdale, Wakefield) and 3 with noc (Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees).
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Urban Truth Collective @urbantruth.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
STUDY: “Reframing obesity as the result of government policy (& lack thereof) shaped by industry influence will logically meet great resistance because it reorients policymakers to address unhealthy food environments lobbied for by multinational food companies…” co-written by @grantennis.bsky.social
jamanetwork.com
Harms of Framing Obesity as a Disease of Individuals
This Viewpoint examines how framing obesity as an individual disease that should be treated may impact addressing the larger systemic- and policy-driven roots of the problem that could be addressed to...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Delighted to have contributed to this on #tobacco from @rcphysicians.bsky.social. The historic tobacco/vapes bill is law, but there is still much to do --> see for the #data, #thinking & #policy #challenges & #opportunities. Tx to Sanjay Agrawal et al for such hard work www.rcp.ac.uk/policy-and-c...
rcp.ac.uk
Smoking, health and social justice
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Re:State @re-state.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
More holes in the patchwork of English devolution. In our first new Re:Act @stkaye.bsky.social shares his analysis of the latest developments in the English devolution following the bill gaining Royal Assent yesterday. restate.substack.com/p/the-englis...
restate.substack.com
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act
Re:Act
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Future generations will end up thanking this one for this, if perhaps for little else. A huge endeavour over time by many. My parents died of smoking-related disease, only managing to stop smoking far too late for them, addicted to the product that helped speed their demise.
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Polly Mackenzie @pollymackenzie.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
If you honestly believe the only reason problems haven’t been solved is because you weren’t in charge, you need a therapist, not a job in Downing Street. Thoughts on civil service reform. howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/going-for-...
howtorunacountry.substack.com
Going for gold
Thoughts on civil service reform
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Just over 654,000 babies were born in 2025 in Germany, compared with 1.36mn at the peak of the baby boom in 1964. The confluence of lower birth rates combined with less public support for migration is going to start to bite in many richer countries www.ft.com/content/0fc7...
ft.com
German births fall to lowest since postwar records began in 1946
Country faces demographic crunch as difference between deaths and births rises to highest level in its postwar history
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
NEW: Policymakers wanting to reduce inequalities risk failing, unless they better recognise the complexity of the challenges involved.  Drawing on our six-year IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities project, today we set out what can be learned from the Review: [THREAD]
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Jo Bibby @jobibby.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
✨✨✨New from the @healthfoundation.bsky.social Over the past decade healthy life expectancy has dropped by ~ two years to just under 61 for both men & women. The UK is 1 of only 5 of the richest 21 countries to see HLE decline and its fall was the second steepest. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
UK healthy life expectancy falls by two years in past decade
Poor housing, obesity and the effects of deprivation have been suggested as underlying cause.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
1/2. Do English devolution, strategic authorities & mayors hold promise for tackling health inequalities? We @thekingsfund.bsky.social @clesthinkdo.bsky.social think so. And below is why, a series of pieces from health duties to practical actions (more to come). www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
kingsfund.org.uk
Regional devolution and health inequalities
The King’s Fund is working with CLES to understand how regional devolution can be used to explore health inequalities.
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The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Climate change is not an ‘environmental’ problem – it is the backdrop for everything governments do. It now shapes our lives in countless ways, seen and unseen and creates new pressures for public services. Read Chris's blog: bit.ly/41TBrdu
An image with a blog post title: "What does climate change mean for the future of public services?" Chris Naylor, Senior Fellow at The King's Fund, is mentioned. A logo of The King's Fund is at the bottom left, and there is a portrait of a person framed in pink on the right.
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
ICYMI: Great run through of what the government's high level stated goals across public services were when it came in to power, and how it's got on...
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Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 22/04/2026
Priceless post from the official White House social media
Margo Martin
@MargoMartin47
X.com
Congratulations, Georgia Women's Tennis!

The photo shows Trump and five white dudes in red ties standing in front of and completely blocking 10 young women
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
ICYMI: Most of us live in a world dense in connections, surveillance & tech, and it can be hard to disconnect ..but not it seems from our connection with the NHS. Via @thekingsfund.bsky.social + partners @healthwatchengland.bsky.social @nationalvoices.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
BBC News - Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Smoking ban for people born after 2008 in the UK agreed
The
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