Spotlight: Improving public services

Oilthigh Ghlaschu 

• Bespoke algorithms developed by researchers at the University of Glasgow are increasing the number of kidney transplants arranged through the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme (UKLKSS). 

• The algorithms allow NHS Blood and Transplant to match recipients requiring a kidney transplant, who have a willing but incompatible donor, with the donor of another recipient in a similar position.  

• Since August 2013, 316 additional transplants have taken place, a 44% increase over the number of transplants that would have been identified using previous algorithms. 

• The improved functionality of the algorithms has freed many more kidney patients and their families from the burden of long-term dialysis and saved the NHS a minimum of £76.2 million between 2013–2030 based on current transplant numbers. 

University of Aberdeen 

• Researchers at the University of Aberdeen are pioneering new medical imaging techniques that could lower the cost of traditional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, making them possible in GP surgeries and even the back of ambulances, and revolutionising access to this key diagnostic technology.   

• Field cycling imaging is a new technique that uses low and variable magnetic fields to provide information on tissue properties that cannot be obtained by other medical imaging technologies. It requires lower magnetic fields than traditional MRI technologies, meaning that scanners using this technique could be cheaper, use less energy and be more portable than current MRI machines.   

• In an unexpected discovery, researchers realised that low magnetic fields show parts of the body differently, with the potential to yield new insights with a range of potential applications, including opening opportunities for new indicators of diseases and the possibility to make diagnoses at an earlier stage.   

University of Stirling 

• University of Stirling researchers have developed the EvoFIT system of facial-composite software alongside holistic-cognitive interview techniques to greatly increase the ability for police to identify suspects of serious crimes. EvoFIT identification rates are 60-70%, compared with around 5% for traditional systems.  

• EvoFIT applies understanding of the psychology of facial recognition to make it easier and more accurate for victims and witnesses of crime to create composites of perpetrators’ faces, with a focus on internal features of the face, which are most important to familiar face recognition.  

• EvoFIT has been used in 11 countries, by 26 police forces – including Police Scotland – for 2,500 investigations, assisting in the identification and arrest of around 1,500 serious offenders, including a murderer.  

University of Glasgow 

• University of Glasgow research has underpinned a partnership model involving collaboration within and between Scotland’s schools and education researchers aimed at closing the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.  

• Using this model, local authorities demonstrated improved professional practice and improved student outcomes. Achievement in numeracy increased by 14% for participating Primary 4 students. 

• The School Improvement Partnership Programme ran from 2013-15 across eight national partnerships, including 14 local authorities and over 50 schools, promoting new approaches for teachers and staff to tackle educational inequity in Scotland. The research informed the establishment of six Regional Improvement Collaboratives and the Scottish Government’s decision to favour local authority-led collaborative practice over new legislation in 2018. The SIPP approach was adapted and refined as part of the What Works Scotland and Children’s Neighbourhood Scotland programmes of research. 

• This programme of work has now evolved into the Network for Social and Educational Equity which has been deployed across several local authorities and is informing approaches internationally, e.g. Chile. 

University of Dundee 

• People who are homeless face many challenges in accessing oral healthcare, which in turn can impact on social interaction, confidence, employability, and appearance. Many face dental and other anxiety issues as well as stigma from society around their oral health, which forces a cycle of health inequalities.  

• In 2011, researchers at Dundee conducted the world’s largest survey on oral health/health needs of homeless populations, alongside NHS Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, and Homelessness Action Scotland. This revealed high levels of tooth decay, limited access to services and depression.  

• A national oral health programme resulted, Smile4Life and was implemented across all NHS Health Boards in Scotland. However, in an evaluation of the effectiveness of Smile4life, researchers found that there was a need for new approaches to multi-agency cooperation between NGOs, service users, and health and social care sectors to increase access, and engagement with services. 

• In collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland, researchers now lead annual training in oral health/health promotion and homelessness for staff and services users in the third sector, and practitioners from all NHS Scotland Boards. This has resulted in increased homelessness health-related knowledge and capacity building of practitioners from health and third sectors. 

• At the 2024 training, a practical guide was released in three languages to support professionals from different sectors in implementing participatory methodologies for community engagement in health promotion for marginalised groups. The resource aims to help strengthen community engagement and contribute to the creation of healthier and more inclusive environments.

University of the West of Scotland and Oxfam 

• The UWS-Oxfam Partnership  is an innovative model of research and knowledge exchange between the University of the West of Scotland and Oxfam Scotland. The partnership was launched in 2011 and is guided by a shared vision for a more equitable, sustainable and socially just Scotland. 

• Since its launch, the partnership has brought together academic expertise from UWS, the social justice and anti-poverty advocacy strengths of Oxfam Scotland, and a wide range of civil society organisations, with example outcomes including contribution to the creation of the Scottish Government’s Poverty and Inequality Commission and work to help strengthen local communities. 

• As an example of the latter, through the project Tea in the Pot: A ‘Great Good Place’ in Govan? the partnership directly assisted the community organisation Tea in the Pot by providing research-based evidence of the centre’s key role in creating a supportive community for socially and economically marginalised working-class women. In 2015, this evidence was used by the group to support funding applications, ultimately ensuring its continued existence.  

• Through identifying what makes Tea in the Pot successful, the research also provided best-practice evidence that could be used to support other local community groups.

University of Strathclyde 

• Research undertaken by the University of Strathclyde on job quality, skills utilisation and workplace partnership has shaped Scotland’s approach to fair work and driven its implementation and ongoing development.  

• Researchers at the Scottish Centre for Employment Research (SCER) at the University of Strathclyde established an evidence base to guide policy and practice by providing an expansive definition of job quality and demonstrating the benefits of a holistic approach that links fair work to individual, business/organisational and societal priorities and outcomes 

• By informing the Working Together Review, the research approach and findings drove the establishment of an independent Fair Work Convention and underpinned the development of the Fair Work Framework.  

• Since 2016, this Framework has influenced Scottish Government policy (including the publication of the Fair Work Action Plan), shaped the priorities and practices of public agencies delivering business support, and changed the practices of employers and unions. This has contributed to improvements in job quality, particularly in relation to job security and effective voice, and ensured targeted responses to challenges such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Robert Gordon University 

• Research from Robert Gordon University has supported the development of a revised sustainable urban mobility plan for Aberdeen which aims to develop an accessible and well-connected transport network for everyone within the community.  

• The research guided local practice on stakeholder engagement, providing evidence supporting policy makers to develop and apply a revised sustainable urban mobility plan and roads hierarchy for the region. It strengthened connections between policy and practice in Aberdeen and resulted in increased public understanding of and engagement with the issues, policies and opportunities. 

• Initial underpinning research was undertaken through Interreg North Sea (CARE North, and CARE North+) and involved close partnership working with a consortium of Municipal Authorities, including Aberdeen City Council. This resulted in the collection and production of key evaluation and consultation data to support prioritisation of city interventions, including car club schemes and the introduction of a low emission zone. 

• Research insights and outputs of the RGU team provided rigorous frameworks and guidance which not only enabled the partners to undertake structured analysis and evaluation of their policies and actions but also allowed them to draw new insights and enact new policies and practices. The benefits of this research have been extended to municipal authorities from across Europe.