In the run up to the general election, The King’s Fund will explore what national government can do to improve health and care in England, consider political parties’ policy proposals, and make sense of the national debate.
On these pages you can find more detail on The King's Fund's general election priorities, our analysis of party policies, and content to help make sense of the debate around health and care.
Our general election priorities
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Improving access to out-of-hospital care
This briefing focuses on how to improve access to out-of-hospital care, including GPs, social care, community services and community mental health services.
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Making careers in health and social care more attractive
The health and care workforce crisis is at the heart of many of the challenges facing the NHS and social care in England. We look at what national government can do to address severe sta...
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Tackling the biggest risk factors affecting people’s health
This briefing focuses on how to tackle the biggest risk factors affecting people’s health.
Long reads
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General election 2024: the health and care manifesto pledges
We make sense of the three main parties' 2024 manifesto pledges on health and care.
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How likely is a general election to transform health and social care?
Nicholas Timmins looks back at the last three big political transitions to ask – how fast might things change for health and social care?
The King's Fund Podcast: election special
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Election special: NHS strikes, A&E pressures and raising taxes to fund the NHS
How might industrial action disrupt plans to improve health care? What do the public want from the next government? Find out in our latest podcast episode.
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Election special: social care plans and manifesto money – do the sums add up?
Do the sums add up in the main parties’ health and care pledges? What's been said about social care in the run-up to the election? Listen now.
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Election special: manifesto week
It's manifesto week and on this podcast episode we're examining what the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Labour are pledging on health and care.
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Election special: NHS budget, community services and the workforce question
In our latest podcast episode, we delve into the Conservative Party’s plan to bolster community services and outline the debate on the health and care workforce so far.
Press releases
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The King's Fund responds to the Liberal Democrats' manifesto
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, responds to the latest general election pledge from the Liberal Democrats to tackle ambulance delays and corridor care.
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The King's Fund responds to the Liberal Democrats' plan to tackle ambulance delays and corridor care
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King's Fund, responds to the latest general election pledge from the Liberal Democrats to tackle ambulance delays and corridor care.
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The King's Fund responds to pledges from the Conservative Party to boost NHS services in the community
'These pledges indicate a welcome direction of travel' says Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive at The King's Fund.
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The King's Fund responds to the Labour Party's plan to clear the NHS backlog
‘Despite sustained efforts, the NHS waiting list for elective care remains stubbornly high, at 7.5 million' says Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive at The King's Fund.
Blogs
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NHS funding in the general election 2024 manifestos: what was said and what does it mean?
Siva Anandaciva decodes what the 2024 manifesto pledges can tell us about future NHS funding and the main parties' intentions when it comes to health and care.
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General election 2024: 28 days and counting
What should we look out for in political manifestos that would show political parties’ commitment to improving both the health and care system and the nation’s health?
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‘Topic avoidance’: how the main parties will avoid talking about social care at this general election
Will the main political parties talk about social care during this election campaign? Not if they can help it, says Simon Bottery
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What do the public want politicians to do about the NHS?
Polls show that the NHS will be the number one issue for voters in the general campaign. But what do the public want politicians to do about the NHS?
Data and charts
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NHS workforce in a nutshell
We know the NHS is facing a workforce crisis, but how many people work in the NHS in England, what roles are they in and are they happy with their jobs? Find out in our nutshell.
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Primary care services in a nutshell
Find out more about how primary care services work, how they're funded, inequalities in access and public satisfaction with general practice and dentistry in this nutshell.
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Capital investment in the NHS
The Department of Health and Social Care’s capital budget is used for research and development, and for long-term investments in building and maintaining NHS land, facilities and equipme...
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The NHS budget and how it has changed
What is the NHS budget and how is it funded? Find out in our nutshell.
Other election content
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Progress on the government's 2019 manifesto commitments on health and social care
Has the government delivered on their 2019 election commitments for health and social care? Jessica Holden examines 14 of the key election commitments and any progress made.
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How does the NHS compare to the health care systems of other countries?
Comparing the health care systems of different countries can help us assess how the UK health care system is performing and where it could improve. Our new report found that the NHS is n...
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Social care 360
Our latest 360 review outlines and analyses 12 key trends in adult social care in England over recent years.
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Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2023
Overall satisfaction with the NHS fell to 24% – a 5 percentage point decrease from 2022. This is the lowest level of public satisfaction recorded since the British Social Attitudes (BSA)...
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The rise and decline of the NHS in England 2000–20
Multi-year funding increases and reforms led to improvements in NHS performance between 2000 and 2010, but performance has declined since 2010 as a result of much lower funding increases...
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Independent health care and the NHS
In this briefing, we set out some of the trends in public and private spending on independent sector health care providers.