Unlearnt Lessons: dying from ‘choice’ in the care of the state
Two days before he died of faecal impaction on November 17th2012, Richard Handley had 10kg of faeces surgically removed from his body. His family raised the alarm because his distended abdomen made him look as though he was ‘full term... More…
Rough Sleeping and the Unhealthy City
The rise in rough sleeping is a result of policies of austerity and exclusion, Yet, increasingly, public discourse frames homelessness as an individual problem. How can we refocus, so that the health of homeless people becomes a barometer for the... More…
With or without solidarity?
Like other aspects of academic life the Cost of Living blog has been disrupted by recent industrial action by the University and College Union. This was in some ways an odd call as it scarcely fits into contracted work for... More…
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
“Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging, and sheer cloudy vagueness.” George Orwell, Politics and the English Language (1945) With the half-life of NHS policies now measured in days and weeks, it was with weary resignation, rather than... More…
University staff are getting a ‘Die Quickly’ pension plan. It won’t work.
What is at stake in the ongoing university strikes? To answer this question, Ewan McGaughey explains how the pension system works, who governs it, and their conflicts of interest. He argues that there is a need to rebuild the university... More…
The Mercy: Mental Health, Seafaring and Mythical Voyages
Mental Health, Seafaring and Mythical Voyages The recent UK cinema release of “The Mercy” revisits the tragic tale of Donald Crowhurst’s doomed entry into the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race. This was a non-stop, single-handed, round-the-world yacht race, held between... More…
All you need is love…
This Valentine’s Day, as with every year, the shops are full of hearts and flowers, and the internet is bombarding us with adverts for romantic getaways, meal deals, and ideas for ever more expensive ways to demonstrate our love for... More…
Data & the gaming of A&E waiting times
A few days ago I found myself investigating the bed occupancy statistics for an NHS hospital trust. This was in response to a friend telling me that the hospital had found the need to invent a new colour level of... More…
Big Drinkers to get a Big Nudge
Public Health England is putting all its efforts into alcohol unit pricing – but is it really the right thing to do? Last week, the Parliamentary Health Select Committee was listening to the views of Public Health experts on the... More…
Solving the Problem of Plastic Pollution: Beyond the natural sciences?
Concerns about the issue of plastic pollution and the health and environmental dangers of microplastics are now firmly in the spotlight. So far, the emphasis has largely been on introducing greater regulation at an international and national level but what... More…
Shortage of nurses in UK is affecting patient care and threatening lives
Nursing is often seen as the beating heart of the NHS. But, if recent media reports are anything to judge by, the beating heart is badly in need of a cardiologist. Outsiders looking in would rightly be puzzled by the... More…
Incentivizing vulnerability: Regulating migration