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ResearchPublished research
Background: Epidemic forecasting research often assesses ensembles and their component models using probabilistic scoring rules. Quantifying how individual models affect ensemble performance is challenging, particularly across multiple targets and spatial scales. Methods: We present Winter 2024–25 forecasts of Influenza and COVID-19 hospital admissions in England and conduct a retrospective simulation using the operational component…
PLOS Computational Biology
ResearchPublished research
Ethnic disparities in stroke incidence and recurrence are well-known but there is conflicting evidence regarding post-stroke care and recovery. In the UK, stroke-survivors are recommended a six-month specialist review but fewer than half receive this review, potentially exacerbating health inequities. Using data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) from inception to August 2023 across four regions in England with…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
Objectives: Adult obesity prevalence exhibits significant spatial disparities across England. While traditional global regression models often overlook local variations, it is unclear whether these relationships vary spatially or remain stable. This study aims to robustly identify determinants of clinical obesity and test for spatial non-stationarity using best-practice diagnostics. Methods: Using 2023/24 data from 151 Upper Tier Local…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
Background: Breastfeeding has health benefits for women and infants. Although the WHO recommends that infants are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low in the UK, with many women stopping breastfeeding within six weeks of their infant’s birth. Many women face challenges initiating and continuing breastfeeding, including low confidence, limited support and misinformation. Breastfeeding…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
Introduction: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common and often results in aspiration. Thickeners are widely used to thicken liquids to slow the liquid bolus and prevent aspiration and aspiration pneumonia, despite multiple concerns about their use. To date, there is little data on prescribing/dispensing practices. This study aims to provide the first overview of thickener dispensing practices, serve as foundational material for parties…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
Despite growing recognition of the challenges faced by families of autistic children in the United Kingdom, existing research has largely focused on parental stress and individual burden, with comparatively limited qualitative attention to how caregiving demands, service systems, and sociocultural contexts interact to shape family quality of life. Addressing this gap, the present study explored caregivers lived experiences of raising…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
There are people living with a previously diagnosed chronic hepatitis C infection who have been lost to follow up, and people who may have undiagnosed hepatitis C. General Practitioners (GPs) could help to support these patients into care, via offering testing, referring to secondary care, and facilitating prescribing. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 GPs, most of whom work with local Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs)…
PLOS One
ResearchPublished research
Background: Maintaining healthcare workers’ (HCWs) mental health is vital to reduce staff absences and turnover, ultimately improving patient care. Most research focuses on clinical staff and single timepoints, overlooking non-clinical contributions. Aims: To examine mental health variations among all staff types over three years and identify those most at risk of poor mental health outcomes. Methods: Our prospective cohort study…
PLOS One