Blog | The King's Fund

Better value and a better night's sleep: keeping acutely unwell children and adults out of hospital

Mathew Mathai, Consultant Paediatrician at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explains how the concept of a ‘virtual hospital’ and keeping patients out of hospital where possible has helped to improve quality and reduce costs.

NHS performance: bad, better or both?

In light of rising demand for NHS services how should we talk about performance against targets? Deborah Ward takes a different view of the data.

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 the problem of excessive winter deaths unique to the UK?

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

The perpetual winter’s tale

Matthew Kershaw looks at the ongoing pressure on NHS performance and calls for action to ensure that the situation during the winter crisis does not become the new normal.

Achieving a balance between quality, access and money

Focusing on just one of these priorities can seem more straightforward, but that is not the reality of life for NHS leaders and is not the right approach, says Matthew Kershaw.

Public satisfaction with GP services drops to lowest level in 35 years

Ruth Robertson considers why public satisfaction with GP services has dropped to its lowest level in 35 years.

Hidden from the targets: how long are patients waiting for NHS care?

Deteriorating performance against national waiting time targets is one of the most visible signs of the increasing pressures facing the NHS. But do the current headlines fully capture how long patients are now waiting for NHS care?

Priorities for the NHS in 2018/19 and beyond

Does the new NHS planning guidance contain good news or bad? Richard Murray takes stock of the changes.

NHS winter crisis: when a plan is not a plan

Matthew Kershaw highlights the need for a fundamental change to the way NHS emergency care is provided.

Preventing a recurrence of this winter's pressures

Preventing a recurrence of this winter’s crisis

Chris Ham considers what needs to be done to stabilise the NHS and ensure that this winter's crisis does not recur.

A&E performance reaches a new low

The media and groups of NHS staff are describing an A&E service in crisis, while the government says the NHS is more prepared for winter than ever before. What does the latest national data say about how A&E departments are coping compared with previous winters?

Black alerts: for emergencies only?

Matthew Kershaw considers whether the frequency of black alerts this winter is putting staff and patients under unsustainable pressure.

Delayed transfers of care: a target that misses the mark?

David Maguire considers what progress has been made in reducing delayed transfers of care.

Initiating improvement: the impact of the Care Quality Commission’s approach to inspection

In light of the recent National Audit Office report, Rachael Smithson considers the Care Quality Commission’s approach and the ways in which the organisation is having an impact on quality of care.

A system response to provider failure: does Greater Manchester point to a different future?

Should we start to look at provider failure as a system issue rather than an organisational one? Chris Ham looks at the lessons the NHS can learn from Greater Manchester.

Will the capped expenditure process help keep a lid on NHS finances?

Siva Anandaciva asks whether the capped expenditure process is an attempt at a short-term fix for a long-term problem.

NHS standards and performance: is prioritisation the answer we’ve been looking for?

James Thompson asks whether a combination of increased funding, incentives and pressure from the centre will be enough to get A&E waiting time targets back on track.

(Elective) hips don't lie: Data reveals pressures on hip replacement services

How have elective hip replacement services been affected by wider financial pressures in the NHS? James Thompson looks at what the data shows.

NHS sustainability and the public: a little more conversation

Does the NHS need more money? Where should the money come from? Harry Evans looks at public attitudes toward NHS funding.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.