Five datasets hosted by the Economic and social Data underpin the research evidence which UK and Scottish governments are using for plans to reduce alcohol misuse.

Researchers at Loughborough University have shown that self-help sleep management, based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can improve sleep quality and duration. The research team are now delivering CBT training for insomnia to NHS therapists throughout the UK.

Researchers from the Centre for Economic Performance and the Spatial Economics Research Centre analysed the impact of reforms in health care, where private hospitals could compete with NHS hospitals on publicly funded care. Their findings were cited by all three main political parties in debates and shaped the design of the NHS reform bill, which became an Act of Parliament in March 2012.

A new tool assessing the quality of team-related behaviours of the core members of an operating theatre team has been mandated for national use by the National Patient Safety Agency and implemented in several other countries.

A KTP Partnership based at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust established training practices for junior doctors and spearheaded the local Medical Workforce Skills Mix Analysis group - leading to a successful bid for £106k from the Strategic Change Fund.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership enabled the charity Breast Cancer Care to plan services for groups of people with breast cancer who have traditionally been under-served.

More efficient scheduling led to estimated cost savings of over £400,000 a year at the Manchester Royal Infirmary by enabling 700 extra operations to be performed each year, reducing cancellations and over-runs.