Blog | The King's Fund

Clinical commissioning groups: what do we know so far?

In the past few days, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have come several steps closer to taking control of £65 billion of NHS spending.

The end of the hospital as we know it?

Paul Corrigan kicks off our second Time to Think Differently debate by looking at how the current model of hospital care could and should change.

Do personal health budgets improve quality of life for patients?

The personal health budgets evaluation, published recently by the Department of Health, contains encouraging news for those who believe that giving patients greater choice, flexibility and control can improve their quality of life.

How must we change care systems to meet the needs of the future patient?

We've had an incredible response to our debate on the changing patient – with views from politicians, health and social care professionals and, most importantly, patients themselves.

Measuring accountability for outcomes: is transparency enough?

The NHS Commissioning Board, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and providers need to be held to account, with plaudits if they excel, and consequences if they fall short of expected standards.

Meeting the needs of people with long-term conditions: challenging our assumptions

Finbarr Martin, Consultant Geriatrician at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, argues that we need to challenge our assumption about how best to meet the needs of people with long-term conditions.

Is the NHS entering treacherous waters?

Having spent the first half of the Parliament legislating for radical changes to the organisation of the NHS, the government now needs to focus on the mundane but much more important challenge of implementing and executing the service changes on which its record will ultimately depend.

How well is the NHS meeting public expectations?

Ben Page, Chief Executive at Ipsos MORI, gives the facts on current public expectations of the NHS and how this is likely to change in the future.

The passing of the Public Health Sub-Committee: mourning a missed opportunity

The government has announced that the Public Health Sub-Committee is being done away with. But did it have the potential to challenge the rest of Whitehall on the public health impacts of their policies?

Developing integrated care at scale and pace: time to make it happen

Following a recent roundtable discussion with Norman Lamb MP, Chris Ham looks at the key priorities needed to make integrated care a reality.

It’s time to think differently

Time to Think Differently is our new programme of work aimed at stimulating debate about the changes needed for the NHS and social care to meet the challenges of the future.

Time for radical change to shift power to patients

Christina Patterson, a patient and columnist at The Independent, makes a powerful case for what patients should expect from health services in the future.

It’s time to think differently

Time to Think Differently is a new programme of work aimed at stimulating debate about the changes needed for the NHS and social care to meet the challenges of the future.

Do GP practices that offer high-quality clinical care also offer a good experience for their patients?

Clinically effective care and good patient experience are universally recognised as key elements of health care quality. But does one always go hand in hand with the other?

Payment by Results: time for a rethink?

The more we have got to know about how PbR operates and similar payment methods in other countries operate in practice, the more there seems to be a case for a rethink, says John Appleby.

Health care in the 2012 US presidential election: fact, fiction and Big Bird

With the 2012 US presidential election only days away, Rachael Addicott looks at where the candidates stand on health care.

First do no harm: lessons from service reconfiguration in London

What can we learn from service redesign in London? Chris Ham reflects on themes from our conference on progressing health care in the capital.

Health and social care at the party conferences: what does the mood music tell us?

What conclusions can we draw from this year’s party conferences about the political and policy landscape for health and social care?

Provider and payment reform in the US: how do Accountable Care Organisations work?

Drawing on her work in the United States, Rachael Addicott looks at how Accountable Care Organisations work and what we can learn from them.

Developing a culture of compassionate care

The Chief Nursing Officer has launched a new vision for nurses, midwives and care-givers. But will it help to develop a culture of compassionate care?

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.