Blog | The King's Fund

Solving the puzzle of social care: the time for action is now

With new research suggesting that the number of people aged 85 and over needing round-the-clock care is set to double by 2035, the government needs to make hard choices if it is to solve the puzzle of social care, says Chris Ham.

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.

Diversity should be a strategic priority

Suzie Bailey explores diversity in the NHS – and why there is still more to do.

Getting the right leadership in place

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith argues that getting the right leadership team in place – and keeping them there – is crucial for NHS trusts.

Through the eyes of GP trainees: workforce of the future

What is driving the workforce crisis in general practice? Mike Nosa-Ehima looks for answers in the results of our survey of GP trainees.

From lab to bedside: ensuring new medicines are available in a cost-effective and timely way

David Omojomolo explores the challenge of offering new medicines within current financial restraints.

The NHS app: will it work?

Matt Honeyman considers the opportunities and challenges ahead for the NHS’s national app due by the end of 2018.

The NHS 10-year plan: how much will be spent on NHS deficits?

Richard Murray calls for the reform of the NHS’s current Byzantine financial system.

Planning for a national centre for arts and health

Sarah Gregory explores the issues around co-producing a plan to establish a national centre for arts and health.

The NHS 10-year plan: transformation holds the key to sustainability

Chris Ham calls for the NHS 10-year plan to outline realistic ambitions to transform health and care over the next decade, focused on improving population health and a new deal with the public.

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 our love for the NHS bad for our health?

On the 70th anniversary of the NHS, Dan Wellings considers whether public affection for our health service is blinding us to its imperfections and the lack of investment in other essential services such as public health and social care.

Learning by doing: integrating health and care in Scotland

Alex Baylis and Allison Trimble look at the role of chief officers in Scotland’s new integration authorities and challenge those working in integrated care in England to learn from the Scottish experience.

Is the problem of excessive winter deaths unique to the UK?

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

NHS funding: what we know, what we don’t know and what comes next

As the dust settles on the new NHS funding announcement, Richard Murray explores what to expect over the next few months.

Second’s out, round two: Is the government’s latest childhood obesity plan a knockout?

Less than a year since its underwhelming first attempt, the government has just released round two of its plan for childhood obesity. What has the government learned since the last time round and is it still pulling its punches?

What can cities in England learn from other countries about population health?

As we publish a new report on population health, Chris Naylor asks whether it is time for cities to have more powers to improve the health of their populations.

The gender pay gap: what now?

Deborah Ward explores some of the factors behind the gender pay gap in the health and care sector and what can be done to address them.

Should free personal care be available in England?

Simon Bottery explores a key social care difference between England and Scotland and considers whether it’s time for change.

How do you engage clinicians in your digital change programme?

How important is user engagement when it comes to managing digital change projects? Dr Robert Fearn, a clinician from Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explores the connection ahead of our new report.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.