Ruairidh Milne
@ruairidhm.bsky.social
Long Covid since March 2020.
“Nothing about me without me” - doesn't seem unreasonable.
Previously: health research, public health, technology assessment and appraisal
Also some Shetland!
“Nothing about me without me” - doesn't seem unreasonable.
Previously: health research, public health, technology assessment and appraisal
Also some Shetland!
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
An effective public health response to the next pandemic demands learning from past mistakes
Public health needs proper funding, effective lines of communication, and support for its workforce to respond to future emergencies
@tracyd-ph.bsky.social @fphuk.bsky.social
An effective public health response to the next pandemic demands learning from past mistakes
Public health needs proper funding, effective lines of communication, and support for its workforce to respond to future emergencies
@tracyd-ph.bsky.social @fphuk.bsky.social
An effective public health response to the next pandemic demands learning from past mistakes
Public health needs proper funding, effective lines of communication, and support for its workforce to respond to future emergencies, writes Tracy Daszkiewicz
The UK covid-19 inquiry’s second report...
www.bmj.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
An effective public health response to the next pandemic demands learning from past mistakes
Public health needs proper funding, effective lines of communication, and support for its workforce to respond to future emergencies
@tracyd-ph.bsky.social @fphuk.bsky.social
An effective public health response to the next pandemic demands learning from past mistakes
Public health needs proper funding, effective lines of communication, and support for its workforce to respond to future emergencies
@tracyd-ph.bsky.social @fphuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
We are building a resource hub that will support educators of children and young people with Long Covid and overlapping illness.
Thanks to all our #volunteers who make this possible.
www.longcovidkids.org/education-pr...
#Education #Inclusion #EquitableEducation #SEND #Disability
Thanks to all our #volunteers who make this possible.
www.longcovidkids.org/education-pr...
#Education #Inclusion #EquitableEducation #SEND #Disability
December 11, 2025 at 10:10 AM
We are building a resource hub that will support educators of children and young people with Long Covid and overlapping illness.
Thanks to all our #volunteers who make this possible.
www.longcovidkids.org/education-pr...
#Education #Inclusion #EquitableEducation #SEND #Disability
Thanks to all our #volunteers who make this possible.
www.longcovidkids.org/education-pr...
#Education #Inclusion #EquitableEducation #SEND #Disability
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Do clinical trials expire?
New heart attack studies show that evidence from 1980s may not apply to patients in 2025.
Beta blockers are a case study in how medicine evolves, and how slowly our evidence base often keeps up.
My latest Substack:
neverdelegateunderstanding.substack.com/p/do-clinica...
New heart attack studies show that evidence from 1980s may not apply to patients in 2025.
Beta blockers are a case study in how medicine evolves, and how slowly our evidence base often keeps up.
My latest Substack:
neverdelegateunderstanding.substack.com/p/do-clinica...
Do Clinical Trials Expire?
What Beta Blockers Teach Us About How Medicine Learns
neverdelegateunderstanding.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Do clinical trials expire?
New heart attack studies show that evidence from 1980s may not apply to patients in 2025.
Beta blockers are a case study in how medicine evolves, and how slowly our evidence base often keeps up.
My latest Substack:
neverdelegateunderstanding.substack.com/p/do-clinica...
New heart attack studies show that evidence from 1980s may not apply to patients in 2025.
Beta blockers are a case study in how medicine evolves, and how slowly our evidence base often keeps up.
My latest Substack:
neverdelegateunderstanding.substack.com/p/do-clinica...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
1/ "Nisreen Alwan, a public health specialist at the University of Southampton, UK, also wants to see more research characterising the public health burden of post-infection conditions."...
#LongCovid
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#LongCovid
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?
The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
1/ "Nisreen Alwan, a public health specialist at the University of Southampton, UK, also wants to see more research characterising the public health burden of post-infection conditions."...
#LongCovid
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#LongCovid
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Good report from @nuffieldtrust.org.uk and @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the abolition of NHS England. Strikes a sceptical tone about rationale, process and likely impact. I'd probably be more sceptical. Full report at www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/defaul.... I liked this graphic!
December 5, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Good report from @nuffieldtrust.org.uk and @instituteforgovernment.org.uk on the abolition of NHS England. Strikes a sceptical tone about rationale, process and likely impact. I'd probably be more sceptical. Full report at www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/defaul.... I liked this graphic!
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
7/ The UK must choose:
🔹 A public health system balancing innovation & affordability
OR
🔹 A US-style model of soaring costs & widening inequalities.
Transparency & accountability are non-negotiable.
Read the full article here: www.bmj.com/content/391/...
🔹 A public health system balancing innovation & affordability
OR
🔹 A US-style model of soaring costs & widening inequalities.
Transparency & accountability are non-negotiable.
Read the full article here: www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Who are the winners and losers of the UK-US pharma deal—it depends which side you believe
Behind the UK’s “landmark” pharma deal with the US lies a costly surrender, with higher drug prices, weaker safeguards, and vague promises of investment, write Els Torreele and Martin McKee
When the...
www.bmj.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 AM
7/ The UK must choose:
🔹 A public health system balancing innovation & affordability
OR
🔹 A US-style model of soaring costs & widening inequalities.
Transparency & accountability are non-negotiable.
Read the full article here: www.bmj.com/content/391/...
🔹 A public health system balancing innovation & affordability
OR
🔹 A US-style model of soaring costs & widening inequalities.
Transparency & accountability are non-negotiable.
Read the full article here: www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
6/ Big selling point - increase in NICE cost effectiveness threshold. But £30k to £35k a 16% increase and if prices increase by 25%, well ... something commentators seem to have missed (emphasising need to question what one is told)
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 AM
6/ Big selling point - increase in NICE cost effectiveness threshold. But £30k to £35k a 16% increase and if prices increase by 25%, well ... something commentators seem to have missed (emphasising need to question what one is told)
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
🧵1/ The UK-US pharma deal is being sold as a “landmark” win for patients and innovation. But behind the headlines lies a costly surrender, as @elstorreele.bsky.social & I explain @bmj.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 AM
🧵1/ The UK-US pharma deal is being sold as a “landmark” win for patients and innovation. But behind the headlines lies a costly surrender, as @elstorreele.bsky.social & I explain @bmj.com
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Did you catch Mike Ormerod’s powerful testimony at the Covid Inquiry last week?
Mike has Long Covid and volunteers with Long Covid Support. He gave evidence on behalf of Long Covid groups at Module 9 “Economic Response”.
Standout quotes (there are many!) Part 1 🧵👇
Mike has Long Covid and volunteers with Long Covid Support. He gave evidence on behalf of Long Covid groups at Module 9 “Economic Response”.
Standout quotes (there are many!) Part 1 🧵👇
December 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Did you catch Mike Ormerod’s powerful testimony at the Covid Inquiry last week?
Mike has Long Covid and volunteers with Long Covid Support. He gave evidence on behalf of Long Covid groups at Module 9 “Economic Response”.
Standout quotes (there are many!) Part 1 🧵👇
Mike has Long Covid and volunteers with Long Covid Support. He gave evidence on behalf of Long Covid groups at Module 9 “Economic Response”.
Standout quotes (there are many!) Part 1 🧵👇
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
This year has broken wind and solar energy generation records.
December 3, 2025 at 7:26 AM
This year has broken wind and solar energy generation records.
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
We've responded to reports that the NHS will pay a higher price for branded new medicines as a condition of a UK-US trade deal.
Read the statement from @sallygainsbury.bsky.social 👇
Read the statement from @sallygainsbury.bsky.social 👇
Nuffield Trust responds to reports that NHS will pay more for branded new medicines
Sally Gainsbury responds to reports that the NHS will pay a higher price for branded new medicines.
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
We've responded to reports that the NHS will pay a higher price for branded new medicines as a condition of a UK-US trade deal.
Read the statement from @sallygainsbury.bsky.social 👇
Read the statement from @sallygainsbury.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
More progress internationally on next generation Covid vaccines – with a setback in the US:
- More good news on the vaccine for people with immunosuppression
- Progress in intranasal vaccine trials in France & the US ....1/2
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/30/m...
- More good news on the vaccine for people with immunosuppression
- Progress in intranasal vaccine trials in France & the US ....1/2
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/30/m...
More Progress on Next Generation Covid Vaccines, and a Setback in the US (Update No 35) - Absolutely Maybe
Last month’s update ran long, so this one covers less than a month – but there’s still a lot of news. There…
absolutelymaybe.plos.org
November 30, 2025 at 5:31 AM
More progress internationally on next generation Covid vaccines – with a setback in the US:
- More good news on the vaccine for people with immunosuppression
- Progress in intranasal vaccine trials in France & the US ....1/2
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/30/m...
- More good news on the vaccine for people with immunosuppression
- Progress in intranasal vaccine trials in France & the US ....1/2
absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/30/m...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Proud to have co-authored this paper on experiences of #LongCovid and work:
“I've done my job for 30 years and I'm very competent at it, but I couldn't understand what some of the words were meaning… It's almost having to recognise things again and relearn things”
“I've done my job for 30 years and I'm very competent at it, but I couldn't understand what some of the words were meaning… It's almost having to recognise things again and relearn things”
New article exploring how Long COVID affects people at work, highlighting the need for adaptable work accommodations to support employment and well‐being.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
“I Put a Lot of Emphasis on Work Because I Want to Keep My Job”: A Population‐Based Interview Study of Long Covid and Employment Changes in England
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Proud to have co-authored this paper on experiences of #LongCovid and work:
“I've done my job for 30 years and I'm very competent at it, but I couldn't understand what some of the words were meaning… It's almost having to recognise things again and relearn things”
“I've done my job for 30 years and I'm very competent at it, but I couldn't understand what some of the words were meaning… It's almost having to recognise things again and relearn things”
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
New data that supports metformin as a potential intervention to reduce #LongCovid www.authorea.com/users/100423...
Metformin at the time of Covid-19 infection and risk of Long Covid: A Target Trial Emulation Study
Background: Our objective was to evaluate metformin prescribed at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of developing Long Covid (LC) in electronic health record data. Methods: We conducted a n...
www.authorea.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM
New data that supports metformin as a potential intervention to reduce #LongCovid www.authorea.com/users/100423...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
📣 Shout out to Mike Ormerod from Long Covid Support who is giving evidence to the @ukcovid-19inquiry.bsky.social today. Thank you Mike for all your incredible hard work, despite your own battle with #LongCovid.
Link for #CovidInquiry livestream below. ⬇️
Link for #CovidInquiry livestream below. ⬇️
November 26, 2025 at 9:48 AM
📣 Shout out to Mike Ormerod from Long Covid Support who is giving evidence to the @ukcovid-19inquiry.bsky.social today. Thank you Mike for all your incredible hard work, despite your own battle with #LongCovid.
Link for #CovidInquiry livestream below. ⬇️
Link for #CovidInquiry livestream below. ⬇️
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Let’s never forget rationing ventilators and Zoom funerals. Boris Johnson and his cronies partied while our loved ones lay dying alone. COVID-19 was the worst public health crisis in a century. We should have locked down earlier. To some of us, PPE was not a get-rich-quick commodity.
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Let’s never forget rationing ventilators and Zoom funerals. Boris Johnson and his cronies partied while our loved ones lay dying alone. COVID-19 was the worst public health crisis in a century. We should have locked down earlier. To some of us, PPE was not a get-rich-quick commodity.
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
"Increasing NHS drug costs would cause thousands of preventable deaths, widen health inequalities and harm the British economy – whilst doing nothing to encourage genuine life sciences investment"
www.doctors.net.uk/news/caving-...
just saying..........
nobody really cares about detail thesedays, or experts. But Karl really IS an expert who has done the detail.
just saying..........
nobody really cares about detail thesedays, or experts. But Karl really IS an expert who has done the detail.
The UK caving to pressure to pay more for drugs will cost lives
Increasing NHS drug costs would cause thousands of preventable deaths, widen health inequalities and harm the British economy – whilst doing nothing to encourage genuine life sciences investment, argu...
www.doctors.net.uk
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"Increasing NHS drug costs would cause thousands of preventable deaths, widen health inequalities and harm the British economy – whilst doing nothing to encourage genuine life sciences investment"
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
November 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
1/ How does the COVID Inquiry's Module 2 report align with what we said in @independentsage.bsky.social at the time? A 🧵on Transparency, Early & Decisive Action, Scientific Advice, Integration of Social & Economic Harms, Communication and Behavioural Science, Governance, Data and Preparedness
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
1/ The Covid Inquiry's Module 2 report confirms critical failures at the highest levels of government, failures that have left millions with Long Covid and inadequate support.
We've drafted a press release in response:
www.longcovid.org/impact/news/...
We've drafted a press release in response:
www.longcovid.org/impact/news/...
Long Covid Support
To learn more visit LongCovid.org
www.longcovid.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
1/ The Covid Inquiry's Module 2 report confirms critical failures at the highest levels of government, failures that have left millions with Long Covid and inadequate support.
We've drafted a press release in response:
www.longcovid.org/impact/news/...
We've drafted a press release in response:
www.longcovid.org/impact/news/...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
“TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE”, VALIDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID
The Covid-19 Inquiry has found that the UK Government should have acknowledged Long Covid and made the risks clear to the public. It has found that by Oct 2020 the UK Government knew #LongCovid was a significant health and policy issue.
The Covid-19 Inquiry has found that the UK Government should have acknowledged Long Covid and made the risks clear to the public. It has found that by Oct 2020 the UK Government knew #LongCovid was a significant health and policy issue.
November 20, 2025 at 10:37 PM
“TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE”, VALIDATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LONG COVID
The Covid-19 Inquiry has found that the UK Government should have acknowledged Long Covid and made the risks clear to the public. It has found that by Oct 2020 the UK Government knew #LongCovid was a significant health and policy issue.
The Covid-19 Inquiry has found that the UK Government should have acknowledged Long Covid and made the risks clear to the public. It has found that by Oct 2020 the UK Government knew #LongCovid was a significant health and policy issue.
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
3 papers @thelancet.com today on the health dangers of ultraprocessed foods and a call for action
The health risks
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The health risks
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
November 18, 2025 at 11:42 PM
3 papers @thelancet.com today on the health dangers of ultraprocessed foods and a call for action
The health risks
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The health risks
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Ruairidh Milne
Available to buy now: One Red Leaf at a Time Greetings Cards.
All proceeds go to our #MEcfs research @uoe-igc.bsky.social.
Thank you @drjogreer.bsky.social & Dr Clare Raynor!
theredtreeandme.substack.com/p/one-red-le...
#oneredleafatatime
All proceeds go to our #MEcfs research @uoe-igc.bsky.social.
Thank you @drjogreer.bsky.social & Dr Clare Raynor!
theredtreeandme.substack.com/p/one-red-le...
#oneredleafatatime
One Red Leaf at a Time Greetings Cards - Raising funds for research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Since so many of you have asked, greetings cards featuring images from the Red Leaf Creative Collaborative are now available to purchase.
theredtreeandme.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Available to buy now: One Red Leaf at a Time Greetings Cards.
All proceeds go to our #MEcfs research @uoe-igc.bsky.social.
Thank you @drjogreer.bsky.social & Dr Clare Raynor!
theredtreeandme.substack.com/p/one-red-le...
#oneredleafatatime
All proceeds go to our #MEcfs research @uoe-igc.bsky.social.
Thank you @drjogreer.bsky.social & Dr Clare Raynor!
theredtreeandme.substack.com/p/one-red-le...
#oneredleafatatime