Blog

Nicola Walsh reflects on the first World Innovation Summit for Health which explored new and innovative ways to tackle a variety of global health care challenges.

NHS England have set out their thinking on how the bulk of NHS money will get to where it needs to be, and on what basis, through allocations to CCGs – David Buck shares his thoughts on this decision.

We can’t deal with the emergency care crisis at the front door of the hospital without addressing the situation at the back door – there are still too many patients who could be sent home within 0 – 2 days but who would not be able to access community support in time, says David Oliver.

People are now taking more drugs than ever before, but who is responsible for ensuring each patient’s prescriptions are appropriate?

Expectations for the Integrated Transformation Fund are high, but will it actually help to deliver integrated care when the system is so under pressure?

The poor health outcomes of people with co-existing mental and physical conditions represent one of the greatest inequalities in health. What needs to happen to change this?

Being able to measure impact and to exchange information are two of the key elements of seamless care co-ordination. So how can current IT systems be improved to help achieve this more effectively?

Although politicians say the NHS has been protected financially, this is only relative to real cuts in other areas of government and, crucially, not in terms of the demands on health care, says John Appleby.

The path to joined-up care is a marathon not a sprint. In his latest blog, Chris Ham looks at what remains to be done to convert aspirations into practice.

How have HealthPathways improved referral management, communication between health professionals and quality outcomes in Canterbury, New Zealand? Nick Timmins looks at the evidence in his new blog post.

It is impossible to deliver effective care without the crucial contribution of highly trained allied health professionals. Yet, whenever the quality of health care is debated, these vital staff are written out of the conversation.

The first of our co-ordinated care case studies highlight a number of components needed for good, joined-up care. But the challenge will be to make this care a reality for patients throughout the country.

In a guest blog for our Time to Think Differently programme, Barrie Dowdeswell gives an international perspective on how the NHS could be utilising one of its prime assests - its buildings.

Three years ago the coalition government's first Spending Review promised to ring fence the budget for the English NHS and to increase spending in real terms each year to 2014/15. So what has actually happened to NHS spending?

Chris Ham introduces our Commission on the future of health and social care in England, explaining that the divison between the NHS and social care established in 1948 is no longer fit for purpose.

In his latest blog post, David Oliver argues that new NHS initiatives should be tested for a longer period of time in order to deliver better outcomes across the board.

How do US organisations provide high-quality person-centred care? And what lessons can be drawn for the NHS, local authorities and the third sector?

It is the actions of the staff working in and with the health and social care organisations that will make the goal of integrated care a reality, says Nicola Walsh.

Should NHS leaders be more like Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg or Nigel Farage, Leader of the UK Independence Party?

As implementation of the government’s controversial health reforms draws near, Richard Humphries looks at how health and wellbeing boards are shaping up.