Vital Signsby BridgeheadAll journalists

01  Journalist · bbc.com · Children's health

Simon Thake: no photograph is held, so their initials are shown instead.
Journalist

Simon Thake

bbc.com and 2 other titles

Articles read per month · health & social care
Dec 2025Jan 2026FebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovto date

Bars cover the last twelve months and show relative volume.

Bylines read on 9 topics since 19 Nov 2025 · latest 12 Nov 2026

Files to · bar length shows relative volume
  • bbc.com
  • BBC Yorkshire
  • Yahoo

This counts only pieces our coverage scan read on the topics Vital Signs tracks, not their full output.

Simon Thake: key facts

Main title
bbc.com
Press coverage
Bylined in the pressby our coverage scan, not their full output
Most recently read
12 Nov 2026
First read
19 Nov 2025

03  Beat

What Simon Thake covers

How we found the articles by Simon Thake we read: we searched news for these terms, by topic. Terms for 9 topics

Children's health

  • children's health
  • paediatric
  • child health
  • children's hospital
  • infant mortality

Also searched with “children's health” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Children's health

Heart disease & stroke

  • heart disease
  • cardiovascular
  • stroke
  • cardiac
  • heart attack
  • stroke rehabilitation

Also searched with “heart disease” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Heart disease & stroke

Cancer

  • cancer
  • cancer treatment
  • cancer screening
  • cancer waiting times
  • oncology
  • chemotherapy
  • radiotherapy
  • cancer diagnosis

Also searched with “cancer” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Cancer

Learning disability & autism

  • learning disability
  • autism
  • autistic
  • SEND
  • EHCP
  • special educational needs
  • ADHD
  • Down's syndrome

Also searched with “learning disability” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Learning disability & autism

GP access

  • GP access
  • general practice
  • GP appointments
  • primary care access
  • GP shortage

Also searched with “GP access” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for GP access

NHS waiting lists

  • NHS waiting list
  • waiting list
  • elective waiting times
  • elective recovery
  • elective backlog
  • waiting list backlog
  • referral to treatment
  • RTT

Also searched with “NHS waiting list” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag. Every term for NHS waiting lists

Mental health

  • mental health
  • mental health services
  • CAMHS
  • psychiatric
  • suicide prevention
  • mental health crisis
  • talking therapies
  • IAPT

Also searched with “mental health” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag. Every term for Mental health

Dementia

  • dementia
  • dementia care
  • Alzheimer's
  • memory clinic
  • dementia diagnosis
  • dementia strategy

Also searched with “dementia” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Dementia

Adult social care & reform

  • adult social care
  • social care reform
  • social care funding
  • Casey Commission
  • care cap
  • Dilnot
  • charging reform
  • Care Act

Also searched with “adult social care” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Adult social care & reform

04  Who they quote

Who Simon Thake calls

Voices credited in their pieces. A reporter who has called someone before is likely to call them again.

  1. Anna CastiauxSector leader
  2. Ian SpicerSector leader
  3. Kari GerstheimerSector leader

Bylines and quoted sources are read automatically from UK coverage of the topics Vital Signs tracks, so this page reflects what our scan has read rather than a complete record. Where a biography appears, it is published by the outlet itself about its own correspondent, and linked above. Photographs come from the outlet’s own byline or author page, or from the journalist’s LinkedIn profile, and each is credited under the picture. Social accounts are not held: asserting an unverified one would attach a real person to an account that might not be theirs. See the methodology, or email contact@bridgeheadcommunications.com to correct anything on it.