Blog

Is the NHS a good place to work? With the NHS and its workforce emerging as a key battleground in the run up to the general election, Rachel Worsley of Ipsos MORI looks at the data on the public’s views on how the NHS performs as an employer.

People who have experienced trauma face a number of barriers to accessing health care. Deborah Fenney explains why a trauma-informed approach is essential for supporting a group that currently face poor health outcomes.

New Zealander Martin Hefford reflects on his time in the UK and ponders the questions about primary care reform that arose from his conversations with those working in primary care, secondary care and the third sector.

Ambitions to improve the quality of mental health care will fail if they are not accompanied by plans to address staff shortages. Helen Gilburt looks at the effect of staff shortages on staff, patients and quality of care.

As this year’s party conference season comes to a close, what have we learned about the main parties’ priorities for health and social care? Richard Murray weighs up the key commitments, from funding and the NHS workforce to social care reform.

Rising demand for services and systemic staff shortages are putting NHS staff under increasing pressure. What impact is this having on sickness absence rates in the NHS, and what can be done to reduce the pressure on staff?

Julia Thrift, Projects Director for the Town & Country Planning Association, explores the relationship between town planning and population health, and how the lessons of NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme should inform future developments to ensure people are able healthier lives and reduce health inequalities.

Following Labour’s announcement that it will abolish prescription charges, Nicholas Timmins weighs up the costs and implications, and questions whether it should be considered a priority.

NHS administrative processes and staff have an important role to play in delivering care. But what happens when administration is poor? What impact can it have on patient experience? As we begin our new project on NHS administration, Lillie Wenzel shares the findings from our early work.

As NHS England publish the key learnings from its Healthy New Towns Programme, Alex Baylis explains why The King’s Fund has been involved in this work and how it links with our vision for population health.

Sally Warren explores whether the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘fix the social care crisis’ will be more successful than attempts by previous administrations.

How will mental health fit into primary care networks? With primary care providing the majority of NHS mental health support, Beccy Baird and Andy Bell from the Centre for Mental Health look at the opportunities and challenges these networks will face in improving the mental as well as physical health of the communities they serve.

Is the NHS adequately funded, and how should funding be raised? Harry Evans explores the findings of the British Social Attitudes survey on public attitudes towards NHS funding and taxation.

Emily, a senior peer support worker at Haven, explains the vital role peer support workers play in supporting people through mental health crisis.

Stop reading this and get back to work – you need to be more productive. Or is it more efficient? David Maguire explores the difference between productivity and efficiency in the NHS long-term plan.

Will leaving the European Union be good or bad for the NHS? Beccy Baird explores the results of the BSA survey, which asked members of the public what they think Brexit will mean for the health service.

Ruth Robertson explores the factors behind why public satisfaction with the NHS is still falling, despite 2018's funding boost.

A new five-year contract for general practice has been announced, with an increase in funding and plans to transform GP services. Beccy Baird and Anna Charles give their take on the key things you need to know.