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Matt Jones

@mattpjones.bsky.social
158 followers 215 following 37 posts

Media and Public Affairs Officer at the Nuffield Trust. Views my own

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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 9h
Want to know where we stand after the dust settled on Burnham's social care announcements? Camille's excellent article explains what needs to come next.
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Leonora Merry @leonoramerry.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Is it free care? Or free personal care? They're very different, as my colleague Natasha points out over at another place:
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Leonora Merry @leonoramerry.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Here's one my colleagues prepared earlier: www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/wh...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
What might Labour’s free personal care pledge actually mean?
With the term ‘personal care’ recently appearing in the debate on social care, what does it actually mean? Camille Oung, Nina Hemmings and Laura Schlepper give their expert take.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 29/09/2026
Today Andy Burnham set out his vision for the future of social care.   Social care policy expert @natashacurry.bsky.social responds to his announcements: what they could mean for reform, and what questions remain? Read Natasha's reaction 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Nuffield Trust response to the Prime Minister's announcements on social care at Labour Party Conference
Natasha Curry responds to the Prime Minister's comments at the Labour Party Conference.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 24/09/2026
Historically, disability and deprivation have been closely linked, but our analysis of PIP finds that this link is weaker for #ADHD and #autism, and has weakened further in recent years. Read more: buff.ly/8vOFG8k
England's least deprived areas have seen the sharpest increase in PIP rates for ADHD or autism among 16–17‑year‑olds — a line chart shows estimated median PIP rates by deprivation quintile rising from 2019 to 2025, with the least‑deprived quintile increasing most.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 16/09/2026
This week's letter from six parliamentary committee chairs "really underlines the strength of public interest in transparency" over the UK-US pharmaceuticals agreement, @sallygainsbury.bsky.social tells Politico's Caroline Hug. 🗞️ Get the story 👇
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
This - from a psychologist who notes, btw, that "Even professors find making friends anxiety-provoking"- is great. If anyone you know is starting university this week or very soon, do flick it on. It might really help and reassure them.
theconversation.com
Why making friends at university feels harder than it really is
We overestimate how much other people notice our own behaviour and any social missteps.
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Leonora Merry @leonoramerry.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In which I had a great deal of fun identifying Britpop era songs for this blog on NHS satisfaction in the 1990s and now, which draws on a new @natcen.bsky.social chapter co-authored by Sir John Curtice and our BSA teams at the @nuffieldtrust.org.uk and @thekingsfund.bsky.social
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Ellie Pearson-Martin @elliemartin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
A new law has dramatically reduced overseas-trained doctors' chances of securing specialty training places, says @nuffieldtrust.org.uk analysis. www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
independent.co.uk
New law prioritising UK medical graduates leads to boost in homegrown doctors
Analysis of NHS data found a change in the law in March has achieved its aim of prioritising medics trained in the NHS over those who trained overseas
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Read today's blog for an important update on our work to scrutinise the evidence for better health care.
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Martin Bagot @martinbagot.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Getting an NHS dentist in England now 'almost impossible', Nuffield Trust analysis shows, as patient and dentist give their sides as part of Mirror special report www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/... #DentistsForAll
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 24/08/2026
Online and in the @mirror.co.uk 📰 today 👇 Read a special report about the decline in practices offering NHS #dentistry across England. @markgdayan.bsky.social says "it amounts to the quiet transformation of dentistry into a two-tier service."
mirror.co.uk
Getting an NHS dentist in England now ‘almost impossible’ says damning report
Scale of NHS practices going private revealed in most comprehensive ever analysis for Mirror's Dentists for All campaign - showing areas of England worst affected
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 13/08/2026
Listen to @theasrstein.bsky.social explain how different countries arrange social care in the second part of a special edition of The Briefing Room. What could work for England? With @davidsonofaaron.bsky.social, @blimeysimon.bsky.social and Andrew Dilnot.
bbc.co.uk
The Briefing Room - Part 2: How do we reform social care? - BBC Sounds
David Aaronovitch and guests discuss what Louise Casey's social care review might entail.
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Kenan Malik @kenanmalik.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
An important bookshop, especially in an area with too few bookshops. Do support.
Appeal by Newham Bookshop threatened with closure because of council rate rise
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 03/08/2026
Stories of patients enduring A&E waits of more than 12 hours for a hospital bed have become all too commonplace since the pandemic. In February 2026, over a third of admitted cases waited over 12 hours from arrival to admission. Follow the trend in our video 👇
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 29/07/2026
@natashacurry.bsky.social says the PM is absolutely right to start a conversation about social care and to accelerate Baroness Casey's review of the system. Getting the public onside will be essential, as other countries show us that change is possible when reform gains public backing.
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Nuffield Trust response to Prime Minister's speech on social care reform
Natasha Curry responds to the Prime Minister's speech today on social care reform.
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Sunflowers and the big top #WOMAD2026
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Great to see @bylinetimes.bsky.social with a presence at #WOMAD2026 again this year. A nice addition to all the other goings-on. I only hope the team are able to enjoy the music as much as the rest of us! 🎶
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 22/07/2026
“There is still a big question mark about what a National Care Service actually means... an administrative body or a new centrally run free-at-the-point-of-use structure similar to the NHS.” @camille-oung.bsky.social spoke to The Times about Burnham's care reform plans. 👇️ buff.ly/C3C4GAM
thetimes.com
Could a death tax give Andy Burnham £18bn a year to fix social care?
A succession of prime ministers have entered office promising to solve the problem of social care but none have succeeded
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 21/07/2026
When considering social care reform, there is much to learn from how social care systems are organised around the world. @camille-oung.bsky.social explains how a comparison between England and New Zealand offers food for thought 👇
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 21/07/2026
NEW: It's clear that devolution will be a key theme under Andy Burnham's leadership. As @markgdayan.bsky.social & @sjanereed.bsky.social argue, making the NHS part of that devolution agenda will not be easy for him & Yvette Cooper, but it’s not impossible. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/ho...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
How could the Burnham government overcome three barriers to NHS devolution?
With new Prime Minister Andy Burnham having pledged the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen”, it is clear that devolution will be a key theme under his leadership. As Mark Dayan an...
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
There's real hope that social care reform is, finally, about to shoot up the political agenda 🔝 Thjs timely summary from our experts looks at how it's been set up eslewhere - what should the state do? And what should be left up to us as citizens? Have a read and let us know how we can help you 🔎
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 15/07/2026
Read about today's report on postnatal emergency care in The Independent 🗞️ There are stark disparities, with deprivation, ethnicity, pre‑existing health conditions and age all associated with the risk of a mother in England using A&E services in the year after giving birth.
the-independent.com
Warning for NHS as staggering number of new mothers seek emergency medical care
Black and young mothers are disproportionately affected
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Sally Gainsbury @sallygainsbury.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Understatement of the year award goes to the OBR for this footnote in today's report on the implications of the US-UK pharma trade deal on health spending. For reasons unknown, the OBR has NOT updated its economic assumptions on the drivers of cost in NHS spending, but has included this footnote >>
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Jack Bernhardt @jackbern.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
oh no, oh no, sorry everyone, I love this
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 03/07/2026
NEW: @theasrstein.bsky.social writes that the NHS league tables are a management tool masquerading as public information, and are a poor guide to the quality of care that patients can expect. As a public-facing product, they should go. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/ti...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Time to clear the tables: why NHS league rankings don’t work
Last year, the government introduced league tables rating the performance of NHS trusts in England. Thea Stein, who raised concerns at the time, argues that the tables are a poor guide to the quality ...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 23/06/2026
Ten years on from the EU referendum, how has Brexit changed NHS and social care staffing? We asked @markgdayan.bsky.social, our policy analyst leading research on the effects of Brexit on health and care.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 23/06/2026
10 years ago today, the UK voted to leave the European Union. @markgdayan.bsky.social picks out 5 ways that Brexit has affected health and social care in the UK. @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
There's some really important work being done by @sallygainsbury.bsky.social to scrutinise the government's decision to spend more money on branded new medicines at the expense of other forms of care that produce more health care benefit. Read the very latest on this via the BMJ.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 18/06/2026
In @reuters.com: Senior Policy Analyst @sallygainsbury.bsky.social says that if other European countries follow the UK’s lead in committing more money to branded new medicines, “health systems will spend more, but will get ​less health benefit for their populations.” Read 👇
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 15/06/2026
In today's @financialtimes.com (£) @markgdayan.bsky.social says that post-Brexit, "there are now more doctors, nurses and health visitors in England from India than from the EU." 🗞️ Read: buff.ly/JDJGUrY 🔎 Explore our NHS Workforce Explainer for more, including this chart: buff.ly/eggqINe
Chart showing how the number of internationally (non-EU/EEA) trained nurses and midwives has increased substantially since the Brexit referendum in 2016, peaking in 2023/24.
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Alex Partridge @alexpartridge87.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
This bit is by some distance the silliest thing about this World Cup
The VAR room standing to attention for some reason
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 12/06/2026
If dental practices keep shifting to do more private work, the impact could be devastating. 🦷 @theasrstein.bsky.social says with people already struggling with the cost of living, this risks "locking people out of care altogether". Ministers must reform the "broken NHS system" buff.ly/n4yXHcv
bbc.co.uk
'I spent uni savings on getting my teeth fixed' - how lack of NHS care is hitting hard
People tell BBC Your Voice the rising cost of private dentistry is putting them in a difficult position.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 11/06/2026
The latest data gives a sense of where the NHS is today after its remarkable 'sprint' to cut 18 week waits. Progress has stalled, emphasising the scale of the challenge with making steady gains. Read @sarahscobie.bsky.social's assessment 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Waiting list progress stalls after NHS ‘sprint’
Sarah Scobie responds to the latest monthly NHS performance figures.
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Jess Morley @jessrmorley.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
On Monday the HSJ named me as the "arguably the single most influential voice on ethics and AI policy" on their list of top 50 influential people for NHS tech in 20216 www.hsj.co.uk/news/the-50-... is (a) very kind; (b) most likely untrue. BUT FWIW here are my current top 10 AI messages 🧵:
hsj.co.uk
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Jack Bailey @jack-bailey.co.uk · 03/06/2026
Last year, we shared a paper showing that Labour's accommodation of the radical right did not work. We now have a new version of the paper online: osf.io/preprints/so...
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
It was great to be involved in the comms for this report. It brings out some striking statistics, but also clear steps that could be taken to improve preventative care and reduce the need for people in prison to rely on A&E services. If you're interested in #prisonerhealth - do give it a read!
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Matt Jones @mattpjones.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
In case you missed it - read the intro to our analysis of the BSA's questions on health and social care. The #BritishSocialAttitudes survey is the go-to study of public views, having run for over 40 years. This year's results give cause for optimism, but the improvement comes from a very low base.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 18/05/2026
The NHS has met its interim target for 65% of patients to be seen within 18 weeks of referral, after a huge push from staff and a short-term funding boost over recent months. But how is the NHS performing overall? Explore our #QualityWatch performance dashboard for the latest. 👉 buff.ly/AThibSB
Our NHS performance dashboard provides an instant overview of the most widely recognised A&E, access and waiting time statistics. Follow the link in our post to explore the dashboard.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 17/05/2026
The agenda has already been set for the new Health and Care Secretary in the form of the new Health Bill that was published this week. In her latest blog, Becks Fisher discusses the key issues raised by the Bill that James Murray must grapple with. 👇️
buff.ly
Centralisation, silencing and control: likely flashpoints for the new Health Bill
As Wes Streeting's exit sets the stage for a new Health Secretary, the agenda has already been set for his successor in the form of the new Health Bill. Becks Fisher discusses the key issues raised…
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 23/04/2026
We’ve published our expert briefings before Scotland and Wales go to the polls in two weeks' time. 🗳️ What is the state of health and social care in each country – and what are the political parties promising to do about it? Scotland 👉 buff.ly/WeNJvyS Wales 👉 buff.ly/8Kngqja
Cover graphic for our election briefing series on the state of health and social care ahead of the elections in Scotland and Wales. Follow the links in our post to read the briefings.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 16/04/2026
Today's performance data tells us whether the NHS has been able to meet some key interim targets. Read the statement from @sarahscobie.bsky.social on the progress made and the challenges ahead.
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Consistent improvement needed after mixed progress during NHS ‘sprint’
Sarah Scobie responds to the latest monthly NHS performance data.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 09/04/2026
NEW analysis finds the expansion of independent prescribers must overcome worrying barriers. Health professionals such as nurses and pharmacists who can prescribe medicines face gaps in supervision, training and workforce planning. Read the report funded by @abpi.bsky.social 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Independent prescribing in the UK: Workforce ambitions and implementation challenges
Health professionals such as nurses, pharmacists and AHPs who can prescribe medicines, known as independent prescribers, are a critical and growing part of the NHS workforce and key to shifting care into the community. However, our report finds current arrangements fall short, with limited planning, inconsistent access to training and supervision, and gaps in regulation, oversight and data.
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Andrew Fisher @fisherandrew79.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
This is a great initiative by @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social "London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced the Renters’ Rights Enforcement Fund will be made available to renters’ unions and councils to fund the training of officers who will enforce the Act." www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
standard.co.uk
Sadiq Khan launches £400,000 fund to help renters sue their landlords
The fund is set to become available when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on May 1
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 25/03/2026
NEW: Public satisfaction with the NHS increased to 26% in 2025. It’s the first increase since Covid, but satisfaction remains low and individual NHS services did not see a similar rise. Read our #BritishSocialAttitudes survey analysis with @thekingsfund.bsky.social: 👉 buff.ly/iB2JyC9
Image showing a graph of satisfaction with the way the NHS runs, over time, from 1983 to 2025. This is figure 1 on the webpage linked to in our post, and it shows that satisfaction increased to 26% in 2025 but remains at historically low levels.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 19/03/2026
Nuffield Trust Chief Executive, @theasrstein.bsky.social, has shared reflections on what the Covid Inquiry's health systems report tells us about the NHS during the crisis, and the challenges the health service faces today.
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Nuffield Trust response to the Covid Inquiry report on healthcare systems
Thea Stein responds to the publication of the Covid Inquiry report on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems in the 4 nations of the UK (Module 3).
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 13/03/2026
Last week, we heard from Baroness Casey about the need to look at what's happening across the country as a whole when planning social care reform. 📽️ Watch Baroness Casey’s Nuffield Trust speech: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kw0...
youtube.com
Baroness Casey on a reformed social care system: Summit 2026 session
YouTube video by Nuffield Trust
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Leonora Merry @leonoramerry.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
What started as a conversation about information and data ended up as a conversation about beliefs and humanity. I wrote some words about our panel discussion last week about trust, information and polarised views. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/fo... Photo (c) Emile Holba 2026
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 11/03/2026
🆕 Reflecting on a session at last week’s Nuffield Trust Summit, @leonoramerry.bsky.social discusses the growing gap between experts, institutions and the public when it comes to science and health care. #ntsummit www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/fo...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Food for thought: addressing misinformation and polarised views in health care
Reflecting on a session from last week’s Nuffield Trust Summit on misinformation and polarised views about health, Leonora Merry discusses the growing gap between experts, institutions and the public ...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 09/03/2026
At last week's Summit, @teuntoebes.bsky.social highlighted how a zero‑risk mindset can undermine quality of life. Teun believes that a shift in perspective can lead to real change in how people experience care. Watch Teun's #ntsummit talk in full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TC5...
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