The King's Fund blog: health policy, NHS leadership, health and social care

Looking to the future: general practice through the eyes of GP trainees

As part of the research for our recent report on the pressures facing general practice, we conducted a survey of GP trainees. Anna Charles considers what the results tell us about the state of general practice, as seen by those just entering the profession.

How does this year's NHS budget compare historically?

Analysis from The King's Fund and the Health Foundation looks at how this year's NHS funding increase compares with previous years. John Appleby and Adam Roberts find that this year's increase is the 28th largest since 1975/6.

Being an NHS chief executive: the best of times and the worst of times

Chris Ham argues that rediscovering real trust is essential if current and future chief executives are to experience the best of times and to find support during the worst of times.

The Highland way: what can we learn from the Scottish NHS?

NHS Highland has undertaken major transformation of its health and care service, and is an exemplar of innovation and quality improvement. With the launch of our joint leadership development programme, Vijaya Nath considers what we can learn from its experience.

The NHS needs more data on activity if it is to address the crisis facing general practice

Beccy Baird highlights the need for nationally collected activity data for general practice.

Readiness to change in NHS organisations

Transformational change can only be achieved with the ongoing involvement, engagement and commitment of leadership and staff throughout NHS organisations, says Michael West.

How do the health care systems in the United Kingdom compare with others internationally?

Sarah Gregory discusses how the health care systems in the United Kingdom compare with those in other countries and asks how we can share ideas and learning.

Separating the noise of contract negotiations from the signal of STPs

Chris Ham considers the progress made so far on sustainability and transformation plans, and whether they really have the potential to be a game-changer for the NHS.

Learning about patients’ experiences of care in their own homes

Jo Maybin looks at the challenges and rewards of researching the experiences of older people who receive district nursing care.

Statesmanship among medical leaders could help resolve the junior doctors’ dispute

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the stand-off between the government and junior doctors, failure to reach agreement on a new contract is bad for patients and for staff, says Chris Ham.

Realising the untapped potential of volunteering in health and care

As we announce the winners of this year's GSK IMPACT Awards, programme manager Lisa Weaks considers the invaluable role that volunteering plays in health and care.

Art in hospitals

We take a look back through The King's Fund library and archive collection to reflect on the Fund's history of commissioning works of art for hospitals.

Integrating housing, health and care

Joni Jabbal considers the potential of the housing and health sectors working together to improve population health.

The leadership challenges of sustainability and transformation plans

Nicola Walsh considers the challenges for health care leaders tasked with developing sustainability and transformation plans, and the behavioural shifts needed to tackle them.

Are opportunities still limited for black and minority ethnic staff in health care leadership?

Vijaya Nath reflects on the issues raised in a recent round-table event on how the NHS can better enable black and minority ethnic staff to achieve their potential as leaders.

Action to tackle the growing crisis in health and social care is essential for a sustainable future

Chris Ham outlines the proposals set out in our new agenda for action to tackle the growing crisis in health and social care.

Co-commissioning one year on: any progress?

How are new co-commissioning arrangements progressing, a year after their introduction? Chris Naylor considers the results of our survey of GP practices in six clinical commissioning groups, carried out with the Nuffield Trust.

Challenges ahead for the newly established NHS Improvement

NHS Improvement aims to deliver better healthcare, transformed care delivery and sustainable finances. With the official launch on 1 April 2016, Richard Murray considers the challenges it faces.

How are NHS financial pressures affecting patient care?

Ruth Robertson looks at the ways in which NHS financial pressures can affect patient care, and the difficulties in assessing the real impact.

Making the transition from NHS clinician to manager

What can be done to ease the transition from clinician to senior manager in the NHS? Divisional medical director Dr Dilys Lai reflects on the support needed to make this step.