Blog | The King's Fund

Streamlining the organisation of the NHS without a top-down reorganisation

Chris Ham makes the case for aligning the work of NHS Improvement and NHS England.

The future of NHS commissioning: no map or clear destination

Ruth Robertson asks how CCGs will be affected as accountable care organisations/systems and sustainability and transformation plans/partnerships are layered on top of an already complex NHS landscape?

Commissioning: barking up the wrong tree?

Faith in the purchaser/provider split as a key driver for reform is fast dissolving, argues Nick Timmins.

Sending shockwaves through the NHS?

Ben Collins asks whether we are seeing the end of the purchaser-provider split as we know it.

Missing the wood for the trees

Ben Collins reflects on the reasons behind the failure of the UnitingCare contract, and lessons that have been learnt for commissioning in the NHS.

Put GPs at the centre of the NHS commissioning roadmap

Ruth Robertson outlines the importance of involving GPs in commissioning and planning in the NHS if we are to meet the challenges of transforming care and balancing finances.

Is strategic commissioning the future for the NHS?

Clinical commissioning is changing in response to financial and operational pressures, and the implementation of new care models. Chris Ham considers whether strategic commissioning is the way forward.

Co-commissioning one year on: any progress?

How are new co-commissioning arrangements progressing, a year after their introduction? Chris Naylor considers the results of our survey of GP practices in six clinical commissioning groups, carried out with the Nuffield Trust.

Is the purchaser–provider split dying?

Is the purchaser provider split dead? No. Is it dying? Quite possibly, says Nicholas Timmins.

Paid for by the NHS, treated privately

John Appleby looks at how much non-NHS providers contribute to NHS care.

Never a better time to make integrated care happen

Richard Humphries looks at the options for CCGs and local authorities to work together to deliver integrated commissioning of health and social care services.

Co-commissioning: a new relationship between GPs and their CCG

Co-commissioning has arrived. Today 64 CCGs take on fully delegated responsibility for commissioning general practice, while 87 CCGs take on joint commissioning responsibilities working with NHS England.

Tearing up the NHS competition rule book

Our briefing on procurement and competition law attempts something rare in the current debate: a purely technical discussion of whether an incoming government could dismantle the current rules given the relationships between UK and EU law.

The best of times, the worst of times: a personal view from the CCG front line

What are some the challenges currently facing CCGs? John Richards, Chief Officer of NHS Southampton City CCG, shares his thoughts.

Contracting for integrated care – what happens once the ink is dry?

Commissioners, providers and policy-makers are showing a lot of interest in new contracting models currently being implemented. However, the contract is often seen as an end in itself rather than a tool for encouraging new ways of working.

Transforming primary care

The new Department of Health document, Transforming primary care, mostly looks to improve services for those with the most complex needs. But what does it tell us about transforming primary care for the rest of the population?

Can Simon Stevens build a coalition for change?

Simon Stevens takes up his post as Chief Executive of NHS England today, with an inbox that will be full to overflowing. But what are the three issues that demand his immediate attention?

How engaged are CCG members one year on?

One year ago today, clinical commissioning groups formally took on their statutory responsibility for £65 billion of the NHS budget. So how do individuals in CCGs feel about engagement now?

A year is a long time in the politics of integrated care

Although all the political parties agree about the importance of integrated care as an end, willing the means to achieve it is another matter, says Richard Humphries.

What can the NHS learn from Marks and Spencer?

Following the appointment of Stuart Rose to advise on leadership in the NHS, Chris Ham reflects on whether the NHS can learn any lessons from the way Marks and Spencer operates.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.