Blog | The King's Fund

The NHS 10-year plan: transformation holds the key to sustainability

Chris Ham calls for the NHS 10-year plan to outline realistic ambitions to transform health and care over the next decade, focused on improving population health and a new deal with the public.

The changing shape of NHS finances

As austerity and widespread staffing shortages began to bite over the past decade, the finances of NHS providers often took a familiar shape each year. But more recently this pattern of financial performance has been increasingly pulled out of shape and distorted.

Is our love for the NHS bad for our health?

On the 70th anniversary of the NHS, Dan Wellings considers whether public affection for our health service is blinding us to its imperfections and the lack of investment in other essential services such as public health and social care.

Learning by doing: integrating health and care in Scotland

Alex Baylis and Allison Trimble look at the role of chief officers in Scotland’s new integration authorities and challenge those working in integrated care in England to learn from the Scottish experience.

Is the problem of excessive winter deaths unique to the UK?

Veena Raleigh assesses patterns in the latest mortality data for European countries.

NHS funding: what we know, what we don’t know and what comes next

As the dust settles on the new NHS funding announcement, Richard Murray explores what to expect over the next few months.

Second’s out, round two: Is the government’s latest childhood obesity plan a knockout?

Less than a year since its underwhelming first attempt, the government has just released round two of its plan for childhood obesity. What has the government learned since the last time round and is it still pulling its punches?

What can cities in England learn from other countries about population health?

As we publish a new report on population health, Chris Naylor asks whether it is time for cities to have more powers to improve the health of their populations.

The gender pay gap: what now?

Deborah Ward explores some of the factors behind the gender pay gap in the health and care sector and what can be done to address them.

Should free personal care be available in England?

Simon Bottery explores a key social care difference between England and Scotland and considers whether it’s time for change.

How do you engage clinicians in your digital change programme?

How important is user engagement when it comes to managing digital change projects? Dr Robert Fearn, a clinician from Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explores the connection ahead of our new report.

Non-executive directors and integrated care: time to think system

Richard Humphries considers how non-executive directors of NHS trusts can contribute to integrated care efforts.

Five ways patient data is saving the NHS

Harry Evans explores five case studies of patient data being used in the NHS.

The story of NHS England: the world’s biggest quango

Chris Ham delves into a new book from Nicholas Timmins on the history of NHS England and reflects on the relationship between Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England and the NHS.

What has the STP or ICS ever done for me?

Chris Ham reflects on the progress in ICSs and STPs so far and assesses what they have achieved.

Transformational change in health and care: five small steps to make a big difference

Durka Dougall considers how five small steps can make a big difference in strengthening transformational change.

The 10-year strategy for the health and care workforce

Which issues need to be considered when formulating the new NHS and social care workforce strategy? Here, Richard Murray gathers ideas from a recent roundtable event at the Fund.

How does the NHS compare internationally on its spending and key resources?

The UK health care system is not alone in the challenges it faces. What can we learn from how other countries have equipped themselves to deal with a growing and ageing population and changing health care needs?

NHS medicines provision: a tricky balancing act

With medicines spending growing at a time of NHS funding restraint, difficult choices lie ahead for policy-makers. Leo Ewbank assesses the current situation and looks at what the future may hold.

Talking about the ‘return on investment of public health’: why it’s important to get it right

David Buck sets out concerns about how the ‘return on investment of public health’ is being widely misinterpreted and why we all need to be clearer and more consistent about what we mean when using that term.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.