Blog | The King's Fund

Is it possible to use the digitisation of the NHS to reach the furthest first?

The health and care system has historically been reliant on paper for sharing information about patients. Digitisation is inevitably changing that, but what impact does that have on those who are marginalised?

A significant moment for general practice

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.

From nasty to nice and back again: seven tips for encouraging cognitive diversity

Susie Perks-Baker and Ben Fuchs explore the challenge facing both 'nasty' and 'nice' cultures: failing to work constructively with conflict.

What’s the role of general practice in addressing population health?

Tom Beaney and Luke Allen explore the unique role GPs have to play in improving population health, but warn that a lack of capacity and resources limits the influence they can have.

The NHS long-term plan: five things you need to know

The NHS long-term plan has been launched and long it indeed is, in every sense of the word, clocking in at a weighty 120 pages. Here’s my take on the top five things you need to know.

2019: handling the uncertainty

Richard Murray reflects on the opportunities and challenges that 2019 may bring, as well as the need for flexibility in the face of uncertainty.

Sexual health services and the importance of prevention

There have been deep spending cuts to sexual health prevention services that work to promote safe sexual behaviour. Ruth Robertson looks at the data.

Social prescribing: a part of something bigger

Beccy Baird highlights how social prescribing must fit within a well-connected and sufficiently-funded system if it is to be successful.

Working beneath the surface: supporting leadership in complex times

As a newly-appointed co-director of our Top Manager Programme for senior leaders in health and social care, Mandip Randhawa shares her insights into why this type of programme is increasingly necessary and relevant in today’s context.

Shared responsibility for health: troubling language and unmet need

Maybe the shared responsibility framework needs a different framing: one that starts with the acknowledgment that people who have health problems have a rightful expectation that they will be supported at a time of need, says Charlotte Augst.

The Care Quality Commission and improvement: a system-wide issue

How can we maximise the impact of CQC’s regulatory action in health and social care? It takes two at least: CQC, providers and other system partners all need to contribute.

Volunteers in NHS hospitals: developing the infrastructure to support them is a win-win

The role of volunteers in the NHS cannot be overstated, but good management is essential to making sure they provide NHS staff with the support they need.

Tackling HIV stigma in the health service

Dr Tom Beaney, a GP trainee working in The King's Fund policy team, reflects on new data from the Positive Voices survey and considers the stigma that people with HIV face within the health service today.

What does it mean to be healthy?

Alongside our new vision for population health report, Carina Crawford-Khan from Citizens UK explores what it means to be healthy.

Shedding light on service design involving patients and the public

Rich Stockley explains how good patient and public involvement requires a robust and well-designed research process, and not just hoping for the elusive ‘lightbulb moment’.

The pivot: changing our relationship with the health system

The nature of the health challenges we face today mean it is no longer appropriate to continue with our existing systems. We have to step outside the institutions and start in homes, communities and work places where health is created, says Hilary Cottam.

Co-ordinating care for high-cost, high-need patients

Chris Ham considers the care models for patients with complex needs presented at the Commonwealth Fund International Symposium, and argues that clinical teams need time and resources to effectively co-ordinate the care they provide.

Prevention is better than cure – except when it comes to paying for it

The government’s emphasis on prevention is welcome, but resources have not been following the rhetoric. David Buck analyses the latest data on local government public health spending.

(Re-)visions of public health: how have our priorities changed?

Ahead of the launch of our new report, A vision for population health, Lynsey Hawker looks back at the evolution of The King’s Fund’s work on public health.

Round two for STP plans: a fresh start or a dangerous distraction?

A new round of planning for sustainability and transformation partnerships must allow for greater collaboration between key stakeholders to bring about real improvements in population health.

Publications: Independent research and analysis on health and social care

Reports, long reads and articles.