Impact Evaluation and Analytical Training Programme - The Health Foundation

About the client

The Health Foundation is an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and healthcare for people in the UK. With the NHS in a state of crisis and the UK grappling with the worsening health of its population, the Foundation’s evidence-based approach to influencing healthcare policy and practice becomes increasingly vital.

Challenge

The Health Foundation wanted to showcase the potential of advanced evaluation techniques to demonstrate their impact, and to train members of their team to conduct these types of analyses internally. The project was structured across three complementary workstreams.

Approach

Workstream 1 — Portfolio evaluation. I conducted an in-depth evaluation of their publication portfolio using advanced bibliometric techniques, revealing how their research outputs evolved throughout the last two decades, mirroring their changing strategic priorities. This analysis went beyond standard database metrics to uncover detailed collaboration patterns, capacity to influence policy, and more.

Workstream 2 — Rapid landscape analyses. I performed rapid landscape analyses of UK research in healthcare technology implementation, NHS productivity, and other areas, providing strategic insights to inform their programmes of work. These analyses employed bibliometric and thematic analyses to map the current state of evidence and identify potential gaps and opportunities.

Workstream 3 — Tailored training programme. I produced a tailored training programme for two staff members in advanced analytical tools and techniques, including Power BI and VOSviewer, enabling them to independently conduct complex analyses on relevant datasets. This knowledge transfer focused on extracting maximum value from their existing scientific database subscription and applying key bibliometric concepts to generate actionable insights.

Outcomes

The timing of this project coincided with a pivotal moment in UK healthcare policy, as the new Labour government launched an independent investigation into the NHS that culminated in the Darzi report, while the declining health of working-age populations continued to make headlines. This context highlighted the crucial importance of the Health Foundation’s evidence-based approach to influencing healthcare policy and practice.

Stephanie Guest added: “The training sessions were a great introduction to the subject of bibliometric analyses and how to get the most out of research data, and we plan to use the learning in the future.”